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AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT

BUSINESS-GOVERNMENT ADVISORY GROUP ON NATIONAL SECURITY

COMMUNIQUE

The third Business-Government Advisory Group on National Security meeting was held in Canberra today. The group met to discuss national security and counter-terrorism, with a focus on the protection of critical infrastructure. Senior leaders across business and government were represented.

The meeting agreed that:

- Terrorism remains a significant and enduring threat to the safety of all

Australians and to our social and economic well-being.

- All Australians - regardless of race or religion - repudiate terrorism and

extremism and share a common desire for a peaceful, prosperous and harmonious

Australian society.

- Government and business must continue to work closely to strengthen our

national security and protect our economy and society from attack.

- Protecting our critical infrastructure is an important task that can only be

achieved through business-government cooperation. The Trusted Information

Sharing Network has excelled in facilitating this cooperation.

- An influenza pandemic remains a possibility and contingency planning for any

outbreak should continue as a high priority.

The meeting also:

• Agreed that a strengthened national approach to identity security would help

combat terrorism and criminal activity, and:

- Acknowledged the development of a national document verification system as a

positive step forward in combating identity fraud.

- Noted the Government’s decision to proceed with a new access card for health

and welfare services.

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• Welcomed the development of a national approach to the protection of places of

mass gatherings as a positive step forward, and:

- Recognised that while it is vital that our places of mass gathering are made as

safe as possible it is not possible to guarantee the safety of all people in all

situations.

• Acknowledged the vital contribution Australia’s transport networks make to our

economy and social interaction, and supported the work that is underway to:

- Bolster domestic and international aviation and airport security following the

Wheeler Review.

- Increase security and customs inspections at our maritime ports.

- Implement land transport reforms in cooperation with the States and Territories.

• Reiterated the reliance business places on the role played by the private security

industry, and:

- Supported the work being undertaken at the direction of COAG to develop

uniform national standards for the security industry.

• Noted that the Australian Government is finalising comprehensive new anti-money

laundering legislation.

• Resolved that security planning exercises greatly enhance our national

preparedness for a terrorist attack and that there is value in the private sector

becoming involved in these exercises.

• Welcomed the ongoing work of COAG on counter-terrorism issues such as CCTV,

community understanding of national security arrangements and the establishment

of a National Emergency Protocol to enhance coordination between all levels of

government.

• Recognised the potential risks to Australia and the Australian economy from an

influenza pandemic and the importance of good risk management and business

continuity planning.

• Recognised the work of the Australian Reinsurance Pool.

The meeting also

• Noted the establishment of ASIO’s Business Liaison Unit Website to facilitate the

flow of information between government and business.

24 July 2006

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