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Strategies and initiatives

The New South Wales Government is committed to securing NSW from criminals and terrorists. Detailed and well practised plans are in place to manage a terrorism incident in this state.

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 Counter Terrorism & Disaster Recovery Directorate has been established in the NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet.

The NSW Police Force

NSW Police Force officer in bomb disposal suit Polair helicopter in action NSW Police Dog Unit with german shepherd

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

 Tactical police in action NSW Police Force Dog Unit inspecting a van NSW Police Marine boat

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
Bus at night Ferries at Circular Quay Rail control room

The NSW Government has committed more than $50 million to the upgrading of CCTV cameras across the CityRail network, Sydney Buses fleet and Sydney Ferries.