Australian Government: Attorney-General's Department
Australian Government: Attorney-General's DepartmentAchieving a Just and Secure Society

$35.7 Million to Fund National Security Measures

Media Release

8 May 2007

Increased resources to protect the community against terrorist activities have been announced by Attorney-General Philip Ruddock in the 2007-08 Budget.

“These measures ensure agencies such as the Australian Federal Police (AFP) have increased resources to protect the community including legislative tools such as control and preventative detention orders,” Mr Ruddock said.

“The funding will also assist in the protection of national security information and in combating terrorist financing.

“An additional $35.7 million will fund these important national security and counter-terrorism measures.

“Part of the $20.5 million in funding for the AFP will allow expansion of existing Joint Counter Terrorism Teams and ensure that people who are the subject of a control order can be properly monitored,” Mr Ruddock said.

The Attorney-General’s Department will receive funding to coordinate protective security measures for highly classified national security information in proceedings involving people charged with terrorism offences. Funding will be provided to assist the effective implementation of the Anti-Terrorism Act (No. 2) 2005 and the National Security Information (Criminal and Civil Proceedings) Act 2004.

Customs will receive $4 million over four years to prevent terrorist financing by providing additional airport officers to implement the reporting of cross-border movements of cheques, money orders and other bearer negotiable instruments.

Mr Ruddock said that secure facilities will also be constructed at key court buildings around the country to ensure that the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, the Federal Court, the Federal Magistrates Court and the Family Court have appropriate resources to protect national security information during the course of proceedings which involve security sensitive information.

Together these measures further strengthen Australia’s robust counter terrorism framework, ensuring that our national security and law enforcement agencies continue to be adequately funded to implement the legislation passed by the Parliament to protect the community and national security information.

 

Media Contact: Steve Ingram (02) 6277 7300