Senator Chris Evans asked the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 24 February 2003:

(1) Must all recruits to the new commando company, announced on 19 December 2002, come from within existing Army ranks, or can they be deployed from outside the Australian Defence Force (ADF).

(2) Will the company have any counter-terrorist skills that, prior to its raising, the ADF did not have.

(3) Precisely what, if any, capabilities will the new company have which are different to those of the Incident Response Regiment (IRR).

(4) Do the company and the IRR seek recruits with similar skill sets.

(5) (a) Has the company been raised; (b) what are the target numbers for: (i) key capability, and (ii) support staff; and (c) can a list be provided of: (i) the total target number, and (ii) the target for each year until the company is expected to be fully operational.

(6) How many personnel have enlisted to the company so far.

(7) (a) When is the company expected to be fully operational; and (b) what definition is being used for `fully operational'.

(8) (a) How does the new Special Operations Command, announced by the Prime Minister on 19 December 2002, change the way our special forces are given their instructions (i.e. what differences are there in practice flowing from this new command structure).

(9) What are the terms of reference of the request by the Prime Minister to the Chief of the Defence Force to develop proposals for an expanded role for the Reserves, as referred to in the Prime Minister's counter-terrorist announcement of 19 December 2002.

(10) (a) What is the nature of the additional involvement by Reserves in domestic counter-terrorist response being considered; and (b) in particular, is any proposal being considered or developed for the Reserves to be involved in responding to a terrorist threat against state assets, without prior request from the state for Defence assistance.

(11) Are there thought to be any gaps in domestic security arrangements in light of which proposals for an expanded role for Reserves are being considered.

(12) Are the proposals under development for an expanded role for the Reserves for them to assist only after a terrorist attack in Australia (i.e. as part of response operations), or are any proposals being developed for their call-up before an attack.

(13) What is the timetable for development of, and reporting to Government on, the proposal relating to a counter-terrorist role for the Reserves.

(14) Will any proposals for an expanded Reserves role be put to Cabinet.

(15) Is any consultation on the proposals being considered occurring: (a) with any Reserves bodies; if so, can a list be provided; and (b) with sections of the community; if so, can details be provided.

(16) How many Reserves are expected to be given counter-terrorist training under the Prime Minister's initiative.

(17) Will additional equipment need to be purchased in order to give the Reserves a counter-terrorist capability; if so, can details be provided of what the costs of any additional equipment will be.

(18) (a) Will the Reserves' powers need to be expanded in order for them to act in counter-terrorist roles; and (b) is any consideration being given to Reserves (or a Reserves category) being given powers of arrest.

(19) Are any changes to the notice requirement for Reserve service being considered.

Senator Hill (Minister for Defence) —The answer to the honourable senator's question is as follows:

(1) Yes. However, the Army is considering a pilot recruiting program for service with Special Forces, which may result in some individuals being recruited directly into Special Operations units.

(2) No.

(3) The Commando Company and Incident Response Regiment (IRR) are distinctly different units and as a consequence provide unique capabilities. The role of the company in 4 Royal Australian Regiment (Commando) will be to conduct offensive and recovery operations beyond the range and capability of other Australian Defence Force (ADF) force elements. The role of the IRR is to provide technical high-risk search, emergency response and specialist chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive incident response to the ADF.

(4) No. The recruits required for the IRR are predominantly Engineers, Medical and Signals personnel. The recruits required for the Commando Company are predominantly Infantry personnel.

(5) (a) No.

(b) and (c) The detailed numbers and growth plan for the additional Commando Company are classified. When mature, the Company, with its integral support elements, will be in the order of 180 personnel.

(6) None. Recruiting for the Commando Company cannot commence until the formal establishment of Special Operations Command occurs on 1 May 2003.

(7) (a) The company is expected to be fully operational by 1 January 2005.

`Fully operational' means that the company, or a component thereof, is available for deployment on operations.

(8) The practical effects are:

(i) the establishment of Special Operations Command, including a Canberra based Headquarters of the Commander, will improve inter-agency coordination at the strategic level;

(ii) for operational matters the Special Operations Commander Australia will report directly to either the Chief of the Defence Force or the Commander Australian Theatre; and

(iii) Special Operations Commander Australia is now directly responsible to Chief of Army instead of the Land Commander Australia regarding raising, training and sustaining special forces.

(9) The Government has directed that Defence develop options and supporting doctrine for the employment of Australian Defence Force Reserves in anti-terrorist roles.

(10) (a) This matter is under consideration and no additional information will be provided.

(b) This matter is under consideration and no additional information will be provided.

(11) Australia's National Security - A Defence Update 2003 recognises the salient features in our changing security environment, including the emergence of new and more immediate threats from terrorism. In particular, the update flags an increased terrorist threat to Australians and Australian interests. It also identifies that some rebalancing of capabilities will be necessary to take account of changes in Australia's strategic environment. Consideration of employing Reserves in anti-terrorism roles has been prompted by these significant strategic imperatives.

(12) This matter is under consideration and no additional information will be provided.

(13) This us currently under consideration.

(14) Defence is developing options and supporting doctrine for the employment of ADF Reserves in anti-terrorist roles.

(15) (a) Defence Reserves are an integral part of the ADF. Defence is currently preparing options and supporting doctrine for the employment of ADF Reserves in anti-terrorist roles. Defence Reserves within Defence and the relevant service headquarters are contributing as part of this process.

(b) No sections of the community are involved in preparing the proposals.

(16) Until Defence has developed options for the employment of Reserves in anti-terrorist roles, and Government has decided upon its preferred option, it is impossible to predict what, if any, Reserve training will be required or how many personnel will require training.

(17) This matter is under consideration and no additional information will be provided.

(18) (a) This matter is under consideration and no additional information will be provided.

(b) This matter is under consideration and no additional information will be provided.

(19) This matter is under consideration and no additional information will be provided.