Revealed: terrorist threat on our docks
SMH
NICK MCKENZIE
September 9, 2009
CONVICTED criminals who pose a terrorist or organised crime risk are free to work on Australia's ports due to gaping holes in the nation's maritime security, according to a report commissioned by the Federal Government.
Kevin 07 (l) seen here with his doppelganger,Madame Wong
The damning Office of Transport Security report reveals the central plank of Australia's post-September 11 waterfront security scheme has failed to meet its core goal - to keep criminals convicted of terrorism-related offences away from maritime sites.
The report, obtained under freedom of information laws, will embarrass the Rudd Government as it is the latest in a string of confidential documents that have been sent to at least two cabinet ministers, Anthony Albanese and Brendan O'Connor, exposing the parlous state of national infrastructure and transport security.
The 75-page report examines the maritime security identity card or MSIC scheme, which was introduced in 2003 and requires workers to undergo criminal background screening and an ASIO assessment to access wharves and offshore facilities.
But the report reveals that the scheme is failing because it does not detect and act on "a range of offences and behaviours that are known to have linkages with terrorist activity and the unlawful interferences with maritime transport and offshore facilities''.
The offences going undetected include those relating to possessing explosives, theft, significant weapons violations, racketeering, blackmail and bribery and "offences relating to the death of another human - be it by assassination or murder".
The report was completed last August, eight months after the Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, delivered his first national security statement and vowed to step up the fight against terrorism and organised crime.
A departmental source said the Government has known of the glaring problems with the MSIC scheme for over a year, but failed to act due to union opposition to any toughening of background screening - a key recommendation of the report.
The report says that the existing threats to the maritime sector include terrorists using improvised explosive devices, small arms or larger weapons, and organised criminals trafficking in arms and drugs.
"Criminal elements already engaged in the above unlawful activities can be potentially recruited, co-opted or tricked into facilitating terrorist planning."
But it says ''a major gap'' exists in the security regime because ''a great many offences that are related to terrorist and related activity are not captured''.
The report concludes that the security card regime ''does not adequately reflect the stated policy objectives - particularly when one takes into account the potential use of trusted insiders and the threat of criminal infiltration by organised crime groups''.
The report reveals the wharves are further exposed because the existing security regime ignores the vast body of criminal intelligence held by the Australian Crime Commission.
The report, conducted by the consulting firm GHD, also reveals that as long as a maritime worker commits a serious criminal offence after they have been issued a security card, it will not be detected for several years.
Details of the report were sent in late July to Mr Albanese, who was criticised earlier this week over claims he failed to act while an opposition MP in 2006 when a customs official leaked him details about gaping holes in airport security.
The Herald revealed in June that the Home Affairs Minister, Brendan O'Connor, was being briefed on a separate report by the Australian Crime Commission that found that organised crime syndicates have an entrenched presence at some wharves and airports and are exploiting gaps in security.
The report calls for an overhaul of the security scheme, including a broadening of the offences for which a worker can be denied a security pass and better use of criminal intelligence.
Figures provided by the Department of Transport reveal that since October, about 20 per cent of the 12,552 maritime workers who have applied for a security card had a criminal record, but only 41 were denied a card.
A still-secret review of the aviation security identity card system has also recommended sweeping changes.
When a political party is financed by Terrorist sympathisers,criminals,UN sycophants & multiculturalists they expect something in return, in this instance the National Security of Australia and the lives of 21 million Australians has been traded for the funding provided to the Australian Labor Party by the Australian Council of Trade Unions and their various criminal enterprises.
These two “organised crime gangs” sabotaged and betrayed Australian troops
during the Vietnam war by aiding and abetting the Communist North Vietnamese along with physically attacking Australian soldiers on Australian soil.
Rudd, just like any other Labor Politician, is required to be a Unionist first and a representative of the Australian people second,although in Rudd’s case it would appear he would rather speak for or represent anyone excepting Australian’s.
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