Strategies and initiatives
The New South Wales (NSW) Government is committed to securing NSW from criminals and terrorists. Detailed and well practised plans are in place to manage a terrorism incident in NSW.
Supported by significant powers through legislation and more than $330 million of additional resources and training, our police, fire services, health, road and transport agencies are well prepared.
We have worked hard to learn the lessons of the attacks on the United States, Bali, Madrid and London to ensure NSW has the best possible plans, resources and emergency responders.
Further information about NSW strategies and initiatives is listed below:
- National initiatives
- The police force
- Transport infrastructure
- The health system
- Emergency services
- Maritime security
National initiatives
NSW continues to be an active and lead participant in developing Australia's counter terrorism capability through membership on the National Counter-Terrorism Committee.
The NSW Government actively participates in the development of national policy reform agreed to by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG). Current initiatives include:
- Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Security (CBRN) – agreement to a National CBRN Security Strategy and to establish a national approach to the regulation of ammonium nitrate and explosives
- Surface Transport Security – intergovernmental agreement to develop a national approach to reduce the risk that transport will be a target for terrorists, particularly mass urban transport
- National Identity Security Strategy – intergovernmental agreement to cooperate to strengthen Australia’s personal identification processes
In recognition of the significance of the terrorist threat and the need to contribute appropriately at state and national levels, a dedicated Security and Recovery Coordination Branch has been established in the NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet.
The NSW Police Force
Since 2002, the NSW Government has spent over $14 million on new equipment for the NSW Police Force in the event of a terrorist attack including:
- $4.4 million for a fast–response helicopter (POLAIR 5)
- $300,000 each for two bomb disposal robots, and $600,000 for a larger bomb disposal robot
- $1.5 million for a Forward Looking Infra Red (FLIR) scanning system
- A bomb containment vessel
- Blast guards for bombs or chemical biological weapons
- An armoured rescue vehicle for the tactical operations police
- Scientific equipment for detecting and assessing chemical or biological weapons
The NSW Police Counter Terrorism & Special Tactics Command was created to reflect the expertise of police in preventing, investigating and responding to terrorist incidents and attacks. This highly specialised command has a staff of around 650, including a permanent presence at Sydney International Airport.
The Command recently established two specialist units – the Business Contact Unit and Community Contact Unit – to focus on greater cooperation and better sharing of information between police, business and the broader community.
Transport infrastructure
Enhanced security procedures are being implemented in and around transport services and Sydney's major transport interchanges.
The NSW Government has committed more than $100 million to the upgrading of CCTV cameras across the CityRail network, Sydney Buses fleet and Sydney Ferries and an additional $120 million has been committed to increasing counter terrorism preparedness for the rail network alone.
Security initiatives that have been implemented to protect passengers on transport services in NSW include:
- Regular patrols of the transport network conducted by 300 NSW Police force Commuter Crime Officers
- Intelligence based patrols of CityRail trains and stations and CountryLink Services by 600 RailCorp Transit Officers
- More than 7000 security cameras on CityRail stations across the network, which are able to be monitored from the RailCorp 24 hour Security Control Centre and other strategically placed locations
- Over 700 intensity lights and 700 emergency help points installed across the CityRail network
- The inclusion of onboard CCTV and customer help points on new trains
In addition, more than $2.5 billion has been invested on around 620 new train carriages for the CityRail fleet. These will include the latest in fire protection, security measures, CCTV and improved emergency egress.
Sydney Buses is investing in over 500 new buses, which will also be fitted with the latest in driver and passenger security. Additional security measures are being implemented on the bus and at the depots, including staff and visitor ID screening at depots in Sydney and Newcastle.
The health system
The health system has well established and practiced plans in place to respond to disasters and the threat of terrorist attack, including through chemical, biological and radiological weapons. It holds a range of equipment including decontamination units, personal protective equipment for first responders and healthcare facility staff, purpose built ambulances, a bio–surveillance system, medications and antidotes, and secure laboratory services.
The NSW Health Counter Disaster Unit has been established to drive disaster preparedness planning, policy and training for NSW Health. The Unit works closely with the Biopreparedness Unit, the Ambulance Special Operations Unit and disaster identified position holders across NSW Health.
The NSW Health Biopreparedness Unit is responsible for preparing for large-scale infectious disease emergencies, such as influenza pandemics, and the public health aspects of other types of disasters.
Emergency services
The NSW Fire Brigades has invested over $12 million on counter terrorism measures in 2006–07.
This included the purchasing and servicing of:
- $1 million on hydraulic rescue equipment
- 1.2 million on rescue rapid intervention kits
- $800,000 on thermal imaging cameras
- $600,000 on a BK 117 helicopter shared with police
- $500,000 on a custom–designed Hazmat Technical Service Centre
- Automated external defibrillators and emergency medical treatment packs
- Gas detectors, breathing apparatus sets, breathing apparatus cylinders and air compressors
The NSW Fire Brigades’ Counter–Terrorism and Aviation Unit manages the planning, development and implementation of their counter–terrorism and aviation capability.
Maritime security
With our harbour a potential terrorist target, the Government is investing in major improvements to the NSW Police Marine Area Command fleet. In addition, NSW Maritime’s role in emergency planning and exercises has increased.
New international obligations requiring port and shipping operators to have approved security plans came into effect on 1 July 2004. The Commonwealth has passed the Maritime Transport and Offshore Facilities Security Act 2003 to implement these obligations. The NSW ports, particularly the major ports in Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong have developed security plans in compliance with these obligations.