Attorney-General’s
Investing in Australia’s Security
The following measures form part of the Investing in Australia’s Security package but are shown in this part as they predominantly impact on net capital investment. Expense measures with a related capital component are described in detail in Part 2. The Investing in Australia’s Security package is summarised in Table 5.
Investing in Australia’s Security — replacement armoured vehicles
| 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attorney-General’s Department | 2.5 | - | - | - |
| Related expense ($m) | ||||
| Attorney-General’s Department | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 |
The Government will provide funding of $3.7 million over four years (including $1.2 million expense funding) to replace its fleet of ten armoured vehicles. The expense funding will meet an increase in operating costs associated with the current security environment, the requirement to move vehicles to different locations around Australia, and increased storage costs.
Investing in Australia’s Security — biometrics for border control
| 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs | 4.2 | - | - | - |
| Australian Customs Service | 1.2 | - | - | - |
| Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade | 1.1 | - | - | - |
| Total | 6.5 | - | - | - |
| Related expense ($m) | ||||
| Australian Customs Service | 1.9 | - | - | - |
| Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade | 1.1 | - | - | - |
| Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs | 0.2 | - | - | - |
| Office of the Federal Privacy Commissioner | - | - | - | - |
| Total | 3.2 | - | - | - |
The Government will provide funding of $9.7 million (including $3.2 million expense funding) in 2004-05 to develop and trial biometric technology for border control.
The introduction of biometrics has the capacity to strengthen border protection through robust identity verification processes and to reduce the risk of identity fraud.
The Australian Customs Service will expand its current trial of an automated biometric border processing system aimed at managing future biometric passports and the projected increases in passenger numbers.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade will trial a prototype biometric passport to ensure compatibility with equipment to be used in the United States.
The Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs will establish a centralised biometric database and conduct further research on biometric capability in visa and border management.
The Office of the Federal Privacy Commissioner will continue to be resourced to provide privacy advice, independent audit and complaint handling.
Investing in Australia’s Security — first port boarding
| 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Customs Service | 1.6 | - | - | - |
| Related expense ($m) | ||||
| Australian Customs Service | 1.2 | - | - | - |
The Government is providing $2.8 million (including $1.2 million expense funding) in 2004-05 to allow the Australian Customs Service to increase the level of first port boarding of vessels and crew arriving in Australia.
The funding will provide for the deployment of an additional 19 staff to be located at seaports around Australia. The capital funding will provide for accommodation facilities in remote locations.
Investing in Australia’s Security — relocation and security upgrade of overseas missions
| 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade | 18.3 | 11.3 | 8.9 | 2.2 |
| Australian Trade Commission | 2.2 | - | - | - |
| Total | 20.5 | 11.3 | 8.9 | 2.2 |
| Related expense ($m) | ||||
| Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade | 7.4 | 6.2 | 4.8 | 4.3 |
| Australian Trade Commission | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.6 |
| Total | 8.1 | 6.7 | 5.4 | 4.9 |
The Government will provide total funding of $79.1 million over five years (including $11.1 million in 2003-04) for the relocation of a number of overseas missions and for the enhancement of security measures at some others. This amount includes expense funding of $27.8 million over five years (including $2.7 million in 2003-04).
The relocation of overseas missions for security reasons will cost $49.5 million over five years (including $14.7 million expense funding). The capital funding will cover the fit-out of the new premises.
A number of other missions require an upgrade of their existing security measures at a cost of $29.6 million over five years (including $13.1 million expense funding). The capital funding will provide for the introduction of various security detection systems, the upgrade of chancery and residential security and an enhancement of emergency communications. The expense funding will meet associated ongoing operational costs.
Investing in Australia’s Security — National Medicines Stockpile
| 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Health and Ageing | 13.2 | - | - | - |
| Related expense ($m) | ||||
| Department of Health and Ageing | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 |
The Government will provide $15.3 million (including $2.1 million expense funding) over four years for the acquisition of additional medical materials for the National Medicines Stockpile. This will ensure sufficient reserves are available to protect essential health care and emergency service personnel, and provide a capability for health authorities to undertake an effective and sustained response to a health emergency.
Investing in Australia’s Security — enhanced security for the perimeter and grounds of Parliament House
| 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Parliamentary Services | 11.7 | - | - | - |
| Related expense ($m) | ||||
| Department of Parliamentary Services | 1.3 | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $13 million in 2004-05 (including $1.3 million expense funding) to the Department of Parliamentary Services for the construction of a barrier system around the internal perimeter of Parliament Drive and for other security measures. The work is anticipated for completion by 31 March 2005.
The expense funding is for project management and other costs associated with security enhancements of Parliament House.
Other measures in the Attorney-General’s portfolio
Attorney-General’s Department — relocation and fit-out costs
| 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attorney-General’s Department | 2.2 | 9.4 | 11.4 | - |
The Government will provide $23 million over three years to enable the Attorney-General’s Department to co-locate to a single site. This funding is for accommodation fit-out costs only. The relocation cost of this measure is being fully absorbed from within the existing resources of the Attorney-General’s Department.
Customs security enhancement
| 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Customs Service | 3.3 | - | - | - |
| Related expense ($m) | ||||
| Australian Customs Service | 1.3 | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $4.5 million (including $1.3 million expense funding) to assist the Australian Customs Service to upgrade the physical security of its many computer server and communications rooms around Australia.