VIC:More needed to protect against terror risk

AAP General News (Australia)
12-07-2011
VIC:More needed to protect against terror risk

MELBOURNE, Dec 7 AAP - The Victorian government is failing to accept responsibility
for ensuring essential services are prepared for the risk of a terrorist attack, an inquiry
says.

A parliamentary committee said the Department of Premier and Cabinet continued to dispute
its responsibilities in overseeing laws that require essential services, such as water,
the transport network and hospitals, to address the risk of a terrorist incident.

"There remains a persistent reluctance on the part of the Department of Premier and
Cabinet in accepting ultimate responsibility for critical infrastructure protection arrangements
in the state," the report said.

"The committee considers this to be unacceptable.

"This ongoing failure potentially leaves the premier, as head of government, exposed
to high-level public criticism for any failure in the protection of essential services
and critical infrastructure."

The Public Accounts and Estimates Committee inquiry said the impacts of this deficiency
have not been tested because there has not been an incident.

The inquiry followed up on the findings of a 2009 auditor-general's report which found
laws governing the protection of essential services against a terrorist strike were duplicated
and lax.

Because a significant portion of these services are owned or operated by the private
sector in Victoria, former state governments have sought to try to protect these assets
through laws.

But the committee's report, tabled in parliament on Wednesday, says the department
needs to be accountable and take stronger action to monitor public-sector agencies and
industry stakeholders and encourage them to comply with laws requiring them to address
the risk of a terrorist incident.

Counter-terrorism laws were introduced in Victoria after the 2001 terrorist attacks
in the US and the 2002 Bali bombings.

AAP mi/mn/tab

KEYWORD: TERROR VIC

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