Senator BRANDIS (2:06 PM) —My question is to the Minister for Justice and Customs, Senator Ellison. Will the minister update the Senate on the new technology currently being trialled by the Australian Customs Service to protect Australia’s borders?

Senator ELLISON (Minister for Justice and Customs) —That is a very important question, particularly for the state of Queensland, and it is appropriate coming from Senator Brandis. Before I touch on it, can I say it is a timely question in view of the fact that today the Prime Minister and President Musharraf from Pakistan have met and signed a memorandum of understanding in relation to fighting terrorism. The agreement in relation to counter-terrorism between Pakistan and Australia will strengthen the security of both countries through exchanges of information and intelligence, joint training activities and capacity-building initiatives.

Of course our enhanced security overseas is important, but it is no more important than that at home, particularly in relation to the protection of our borders—and that is the importance of the question that Senator Brandis raised. Last month, the Australian government launched a trial of a new over-the-horizon radar system in the Torres Strait. The high frequency surface wave radar system is state-of-the-art technology which will operate in the Torres Strait on a pilot basis, with the Department of Defence working side by side with Customs in heightening the scrutiny that we place on that particular area. It will cover 94,000 square kilometres, have an arc of some 300 kilometres over 120 degrees, operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and provide that intense scrutiny of the Torres Strait which is so important to Australia’s interests. What we can learn from this is the application of this in other areas, such as in the north-west of Australia and in areas of strategic importance such as oil and gas fields.

This was the culmination of a good deal of work involving the private sector, the Department of Defence, Customs and the people of the Dauan and Badu Islands. I place on record the government’s appreciation of their efforts. This involved an Indigenous land usage act—one of the first of its kind—in allowing us to have a transmitter on one island and a receiver on the other. I met with the people up there and personally conveyed to them the government’s appreciation of their cooperation in setting this up. Of course, the people of the Torres Strait are very supportive of our strong border protection measures.

This measure will provide us with protection and scrutiny in relation to illegal entrants, drug smuggling and quarantine threats and can also provide early storm warnings, which is very important in an area like the Torres Strait. Funding of some $23 million has been put into this project. I also want to compliment Daronmont Technologies, which developed this and have been tasked with putting it in place. This pilot program will involve a period of time, we will assess its usage and it will provide great benefits to border protection for this country in an area which is perhaps one of the most strategically important areas for border protection—an area where Australian landfall is just four kilometres from the coast of Papua New Guinea. That demonstrates the strategic nature of the Torres Strait. But this is state-of-the-art technology which we can then apply to other areas which are vital to Australia’s interests.