An audit of Australia’s defence security policy and practices applying to weapons, munitions and explosives has resulted in a series of recommendations to tighten procedures.
Minister for Defence Brendan Nelson said, “I have asked for a detailed, fully costed, implementation plan to be developed and I will be closely and regularly monitoring progress against each of the recommendations.”
The Ministry of Defence has already started implementing many of the recommendations to further improve security.
The audit confirmed that significant improvements have been made since 2000 in Defence’s security procedures with regard to weapons. It made recommendations to further tighten those procedures, including a stronger oversight and compliance regime. The audit also recommended improvements for the security of munitions, including the M72 rocket launchers, and security arrangements applying to explosive ordnance.
The key recommendations include:
- introducing higher levels of physical security and access controls across Defence’s weapons, munitions and explosives storage facilities;
- improving personnel security checking procedures for individuals handling weapons, munitions and explosives;
- introducing more searches at all large scale weapons, munitions and explosives facilities;
- implementing a mandatory “two person” policy to prevent unsupervised access to weapons, munitions and explosives, including during disposal activities;
- creating a weapons, munitions and explosives security section in the Defence Security Authority with a capability to audit, review compliance and mandate remediation of weapons of mass effect security issues;
- ensuring a Defence wide understanding of weapons, munitions and explosives security requirements through a single reference point managed by the Defence Security Authority;
- undertaking a security validation program across all Defence weapons, munitions and explosives storage facilities;
- more rigorous monitoring and evaluation of the security performance of contractors with a role in managing and handling weapons munitions and explosives; and
- introducing a Defence wide security information system to monitor security management procedures and performance.
The audit recommended a single Defence authority have oversight for weapons, munitions and explosives at all stages of handling from acquisition through disposal. The Vice Chief of the Defence Force, assisted by the Commander Joint Logistics Group, will provide the oversight function.