Circular No. 2003-03 outlines, in detail, the procedures to be followed by all public sector agencies in reporting security incidents and Memorandum 2003-04, which was issued in the context of Australia becoming involved in the war in Iraq, reinforced those procedures and stressed the need for stringent adherence to them by all agencies.

While there has been no change in the counter terrorism level of alert within Australia which remains at medium, the media continues to carry reports of terrorist threats to Australia or to its off-shore interests. In this context it is considered timely to remind agencies of the role of the NSW Police in dealing with the threats of terrorism and actual incidents.

The Commonwealth Criminal Code Act 1995, outlines the definition of a "terrorist act" including the threat of a terrorist act, for the purposes of the National Counter Terrorist Plan [NCTP] and the Handbook that supports the plan and contains the detail of the response arrangements.

In all states and territories the jurisdictional police have the operational responsibility for dealing with incidents or threats of terrorism. The Police are the focal point for the receipt of intelligence from various sources in respect of terrorism and for assessing and analysing what action, if any, is to be taken in respect of any advice that may come to their notice.

In New South Wales, the Commissioner of Police is the primary source of advice to the NSW Government on what action should be taken in relation to any terrorist threats or actual incidents. It follows, therefore, that all agencies need to have clear lines of communication to the Police in relation to any information involving their organisation in an act or threat of terrorism.

In order to meet these communication requirements, it is essential that agencies have in place sound and timely internal procedures for reporting incidents or threats to the chief executives and for similar reporting arrangements by the chief executive to the Police to also be in place. The Commissioner will determine what action is necessary in relation to any information that comes to his notice.

Where the Commissioner of Police, or other Senior Police Officer at his direction, requests a chief executive to take some emergency action in relation to a terrorist act or a terrorist threat, the chief executive is asked to comply with that request.

Agencies may report information on a 24/7 basis to the Duty Operations Inspector, Police Communications Group on (02) 9265 4408 for the information of the Police Counter Terrorism Coordination Command.

Bob Carr MP
Premier