ADF to boost security checks at bases

[buglerbilly]

April 27, 2010 - 12:04PM

AAP

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) is set to upgrade security at its bases including tougher checks on people and vehicles entering military facilities.

Personnel also will be given legal authority to defend themselves in event of a terror attack.

The move follows the arrest of four men in Melbourne in August last year who allegedly were planning a terrorist attack against Sydney's Holsworthy Army base.

A review of base security, approved by federal cabinet's national security committee, has resulted in a number of measures being rolled out.

Key changes will include tighter security controls at entry and exit points and stricter access requirements, including positive identification using biometrics at some facilities.

Depending on the alert level, vehicles may be searched, along with people and items they are carrying.

Defence's chief security officer Frank Roberts said the measures would enhance the security of bases, mostly at the larger facilities.

"Our planning needs to be intelligence-led and risk-based," he told the latest edition of the RAAF newspaper Air Force.

That involved identifying bases that may be attractive as a terrorist target and ensuring security risks there are addressed in the first instance."

The new measures will require changes to the Defence Act to ensure ADF personnel had legal authority to defend themselves in event of a terror attack.

There also needed to be a legal basis for inspection of vehicles, of items carried by people entering bases and for personal searches.

Thought was required about procedures to deal with a security situation until police arrived in sufficient numbers, Mr Roberts said.

Defence force chief Angus Houston wants clarification of the legal implications for personnel who used force to defend themselves and others in the event a base came under terrorist attack.

© 2010 AAP

[rawcs]

Shoot to kill powers for Australian military (http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/shoot-to-kill-powers-for-australian-military/story-e6frg8yo-1225884120916)



From: AAP
June 25, 2010 8:58AM


DEFENCE personnel will be authorised to shoot to kill terrorists attacking Australian defence bases.

Defence personnel are also to gain greater powers to search people moving on and off defence bases for unauthorised items and contraband.

It follows a review of defence base security last year conducted after the arrest of a number of individuals who were allegedly plotting to attack the Holsworthy army base outside of Sydney.

Defence Minister John Faulkner said the review recommended a number of enhancements to base security, plus some legislative changes to powers available to defence personnel.

A key recommendation was to clarify legal issues surrounding Australian Defence Force members acting in self-defence in event of a no-warning attack.

Senator Faulkner said the general right of self-defence provided the current legal basis for ADF personnel resorting to force. He said the proposed legislative changes would provide certainty on what was permitted.


"They will clarify the regime for authorised members of the ADF to use up to, and including lethal, force where this is considered reasonable and necessary to protect life or prevent serious injury to themselves or others in event of an actual, or imminent, attack on defence premises," he said.

Senator Faulkner said this did not alter the primacy of civil police in responding to security incidents at defence facilities.

Rather, it ensured appropriately trained ADF personnel were able to immediately defend themselves and others until police took control.

Senator Faulkner said the legislation empowered defence security officials to request a person's identity, conduct a search on entry or departure from a defence base and in some circumstances refuse entry or detain a person.

He said the identification and search power would generally be exercised by contracted security guards while the powers to conduct non-consensual searches, or to detain, would be exercised by defence security officers.

Senator Faulkner said the legislation would stiffen penalties for trespassing on defence premises, which now attract a grossly inadequate $40 fine.

That will be increased to $5500. Debate on the Defence Legislation Amendment (Security of Defence Premises) Bill 2010 was adjourned.

[Raven22]

Senator Faulkner said the general right of self-defence provided the current legal basis for ADF personnel resorting to force. He said the proposed legislative changes would provide certainty on what was permitted.

"They will clarify the regime for authorised members of the ADF to use up to, and including lethal, force where this is considered reasonable and necessary to protect life or prevent serious injury to themselves or others in event of an actual, or imminent, attack on defence premises," he said.

I hope they put some though into this, as the current idea of using the right to self defence isn't robust enough for the real world. Self defence is fine as long as it is you that is being attacked. The problem would come from uniform people responding to an incident in order to defend others. We went through this at work last year. Imagine the scenario of a terrorist attack on a defence base. Soldiers at the range with weapons and live ammunition do the right thing and respond. A gun battle ensures, and the terrorists are shot dead. Under current legislation, those soldiers that responded really have no protection for their actions. They have gone beyond what is allowed under self defence. Now, the chance of those soldiers actually being prosecuted for such an act would be pretty small (imagine the public outcry), but defence members need more than the right to self defence. They need the right to respond with the appropriate level of force to threats to commonwealth land.