Document Index Budget Related Paper "Promises Kept for a Stronger Australia"

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND SECURITY

• International Relations and Security
  • The Attorney-General's Portfolio
    • Establish a National Crime Information System (CrimTrac)
    • Building safer communities - develop new approaches to crime prevention
    • Tough on drugs - increased search capacity and purchase of x-ray technology to enhance capacity for drug detection at the nation's borders
    • Tough on drugs - four mobile strike teams
  • The Defence Portfolio
    • Defence New Priorities
  • The Foreign Affairs and Trade Portfolio
    • Opening an Australian Embassy in Zagreb
    • Capital

The Attorney-General's Portfolio

Establish a National Crime Information System (CrimTrac)

Explanation

The Government, in conjunction with State and Territory counterparts, will establish a National Crime Information System (CrimTrac) to provide police in all jurisdictions with rapid access to detailed, current information. In particular, CrimTrac will establish, for the first time, a national DNA Criminal Intelligence Database and a National Child Sex Offender Database. It will also replace the outdated National Automated Fingerprint Identification System. CrimTrac will allow real time access to operational policing data on a national basis.

The development and implementation of CrimTrac will be phased. It is envisaged that by the end of 2000 a new fingerprint identification system will be in operation and significant components of the DNA and child sex offender databases will have been implemented. Further enhancements to CrimTrac will occur in the following years.

This measure delivers on the Government's election commitment in A Safer and Stronger Australia.

Building safer communities - develop new approaches to crime prevention

Explanation

The Government will provide funding over four years to implement its election commitment for a National Crime Prevention programme. This programme will be aimed at identifying and promoting ways to effectively reduce and prevent crime, and fear of crime in society and to prevent future involvement of young people in crime and delinquent behaviour.

The programme will be implemented in partnership with other Commonwealth agencies, the States and Territories, local government and the non-government sector. As part of the National Crime Prevention programme, the Government will provide funding for an

early intervention programme, which will work with families and young people, to prevent young people entering into criminal or delinquent behaviours.

This measure delivers on the Government's election commitment in A Safer and Stronger Australia.

Tough on drugs - increased search capacity and purchase of x-ray technology to enhance capacity for drug detection at the nation's borders

Explanation

As part of the expansion of the Tough on Drugs strategy, the Government will provide additional resources to the Australian Customs Service to significantly increase Customs' ability to detect and seize illicit drugs being imported into Australia. The funding will provide Customs with an increased search capability through:

• an enhanced x-ray search capacity to:
  • better identify which cargo should be subject to physical examination;
  • target which part of the container should be searched, minimising the time required to examine the cargo; and
  • improve the rate and quality of examinations performed on high risk consignments.
• the creation of specialist ship and aircraft search teams to improve drug detection and seizure at Australian ports and airports; and
• the deployment of an additional marine crew to strengthen the coverage in the Torres Strait.

This measure delivers on the Government's election commitment in Tough on Drugs -- Strengthening the Fight.

Tough on drugs - four mobile strike teams

Explanation

The Government will provide funding for four additional strike teams as part of its expansion of the Tough on Drugs strategy. The strike teams will comprise investigators, intelligence and financial analysts, technical experts, surveillance and counter intelligence personnel as required.

This initiative will provide the Australian Federal Police (AFP) with increased scope to build teams of differing composition and duration to pursue drug trafficking activity on a broader front and in greater depth. The new strike teams will allow the AFP to deploy resources to locations where the threat of illegal activity is significant but where a large permanent AFP presence cannot be justified.

This measure delivers on the Government's election commitment in Tough on Drugs -- Strengthening the Fight.

The Defence Portfolio

Defence New Priorities

Explanation

The Government will progress initiatives to enable the Australian Defence Force to balance and enhance its capabilities in priority areas such as defeating air and maritime threats, strike and land forces.

Specifically, the Government has determined that:

• the Jindalee Over the Horizon Radar Network project will be remediated through the introduction of a new contract management company and revised project management arrangements;
• concerns regarding the Collins Class Submarine project will be addressed through the contract and ongoing testing and trials;
• Defence Reform Programme savings will be reinvested to fund the expansion of the combat force;
• it will support competitive remuneration rates through the development of a revised remuneration structure, in line with its commitment to give the Australian Defence Force a modern value-driven remuneration system;
• Defence will create an Office of the Revolution in Military Affairs (RMA) and additionally, some $10 million will be provided to the Defence Science and Technology Organisation to conduct research into RMA; and
• Defence will invest $23 million in chemical, biological and radiological defence.

These measures will be absorbed within the Defence global budget.

These measures deliver on the Government's election commitment in Building Combat Capability.

The Foreign Affairs and Trade Portfolio

Opening an Australian Embassy in Zagreb

Explanation

The Government has decided to establish an Australian Embassy in Zagreb, Croatia, including Austrade marketing staff.

The Embassy in Zagreb will strengthen Australia's diplomatic representation in Central Europe. It will work to advance Australia's bilateral and regional interests including trade and investment. Delivery of consular, passport and visa services in Croatia will improve significantly. The establishment of the Embassy in Zagreb will also further enhance the Government's market diversification strategy in Central and Eastern Europe.

Capital

As an integral part of the decision to open an Australian Embassy in Zagreb, Croatia, the Government has provided an equity injection for the acquisition of non-current assets for the mission. The main asset purchases will be office fitout, communications and office equipment, furniture (office and residential), and motor vehicles.

This measure delivers on the Government's election commitment in Advancing Australia's Interests.