SECURITY ISSUES

Transport Security
Maritime Security
Aviation Security
Critical Infrastructure Protection
Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design
Hazardous Materials

Protecting Tasmania’s transport industry requires the cooperative involvement of owners and operators of infrastructure, assets and services, government agencies (regulators and safety authorities), industry associations, and the community.

Click here to download the State Transport Security Strategy.

Our maritime industry is a vital link to the world. The Tasmanian Government has worked closely with port owner/operators and the Commonwealth Department of Transport and Regional Services to develop security plans in accordance with the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPFSC) and the Commonwealth Maritime Transport and Offshore Facilities Security Act 2003.

Any queries in relation to the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code or maritime security generally may be directed to the State Security Unit.

The Tasmanian Government has been working with the Commonwealth Department of Transport and Regional Services to implement a security framework for the aviation sector that minimises the risk of aviation assets being a target for terrorism, or aircraft being used in terrorist attacks.

Communities are highly dependent on some elements of infrastructure. Many people will remember the collapse of the Tasman Bridge in 1975 and the effect it had on Hobart. Failure of critical infrastructure (through terrorism or another cause) can result in major disruption.

The need to protect Tasmania's critical infrastructure has been recognised for a long time - most of Tasmania's critical infrastructure providers are well practiced in the management of risk.

The new terrorism environment introduces a different type and level of risk. In response the Australian Government has established a Trusted Information Sharing Network (TISN). The TISN provides a mechanism for sharing information related to the protection of critical infrastructure. It comprises number of Infrastructure Assurance Advisory Groups drawn from a sectors such as communications, finance, energy, transport, water, food, health and emergency services.

Click here to link to the Australian Governments TISN website.

The link between design of urban areas and safety from crime has been recognised for many years. This recognition is based on the premise that both fear of crime and actual crime can be decreased when environmental design effectively reduces the potential crime conditions.

Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) seeks to reduce the opportunity for crime to occur through the effective planning, design and management of both the built and landscaped environment.

For more information on the CPTED principles click here.

Many household and industrial chemicals can be misused to make an Improvised Explosive Device (IED).

In Tasmania, household and industrial chemicals and dangerous goods are regulated under the following key legislation:

• Dangerous Goods Act 1998
• Fertilisers Act 1993
• Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Tasmania) Act 1994
• Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Control of Use) Act 1995
• Security Sensitive Dangerous Substances Act 2005

These Acts can be accessed at www.thelaw.tas.gov.au

Recent Security Developments

Review of Hazardous Materials

In December 2002, the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) agreed to a national review of the regulation, reporting and security surrounding the storage, sale and handling of hazardous materials.

The review has been divided into four components: radiological sources; harmful biological materials; hazardous chemicals; and ammonium nitrate. Ammonium nitrate was given priority within the review because of its history of terrorist use and public concern about its ready availability.

All States and Territories accepted the recommendations of the COAG Report on the Regulation and Control of Ammonium Nitrate that was released in March 2005. Commonwealth, State and Territory officials have worked together to develop the Principles for the Regulation of Ammonium Nitrate (the Principles). The Principles were agreed by COAG on 25 June 2004.

The Tasmanian Government announced in late June 2004 its intention to support the Principles and take the further step of banning ammonium nitrate as a fertiliser in Tasmania.

In June 2005 the Security Sensitive Dangerous Substances Act 2005 was passed by the Tasmanian Parliament. This Act established a permit regime to regulate access to SSAN and potentially other dangerous substances.

Further details can be accessed from the Security Sensitive Dangerous Substances webpage at Workplace Standards Tasmania.

Fertiliser Industry Federation of Australia Guidelines

The Fertiliser Industry Federation of Australia (FIFA), which is the key representative body for manufacturers, importers and distributors of fertiliser in Australia, has produced a Security Code of Practice and a Code of Practice for FIFA members.

The aim of the Security Code of Practice is to minimise the risk of fertiliser products being misused for terrorism and other criminal activity. FIFA members are required to abide by the Security Code of Practice and all relevant State and Commonwealth legislation.

Although the new regulatory regime for ammonium nitrate means that the voluntary code will not be required for that particular fertiliser, the Code will still be useful for other fertilisers of security concern that fall short of requiring government regulation.

Further details about FIFA and the Security Code of Practice can be obtained from the FIFA website at www.fifa.asn.au

Hazardous Materials - The Role of Tasmanian Business

The following is a checklist of actions or issues that all businesses involved in the supply, storage or handling of chemicals and other dangerous goods need to consider and address:

• Ensure compliance with relevant hazardous materials or dangerous goods legislation;
• Incorporate security issues into risk management planning and report on security issues at management meetings;
• Develop a company security policy and assign responsibility for security issues to a responsible person or management representative;
• Undertake regular assessments of the company security plan, physical security and processes;
• Brief and train staff on the company security policy and processes;
• Ensure that the company security plan details what actions will be taken if there is an increase in the National Alert Level;
• Develop relationships with local Police, Fire and Emergency Services particularly if you expect these units to be involved in the execution of your Security Plan; and
• Ensure you have a site map available for Police, Fire and Emergency Services personnel to use which details the location and quantities of hazardous materials stored on your premises.

If you are aware of anyone stockpiling household or industrial chemicals, explosives or other hazardous materials report it to the National Security Hotline on 1800 123 400.

In particular, if you are a retailer or supplier of household or industrial chemicals and:

• you have refused to sell these products to anyone for security reasons;
• you suspect that a recent sale may be used for terrorist or criminal purposes;
• some aspect of a recent transaction appears even slightly odd or unusual (for example, a city resident buying large volumes of agricultural fertiliser); or
• you have recorded a theft or a large discrepancy in your stocks.

report it to the National Security Hotline on 1800 123 400.