❓ Question on Notice regarding the security of WA's radio and telecommunications infrastructure in the event of a military emergency or retaliation attack, and the actions taken by the Critical Infrastructure Group to safeguard it.
AnsweredQoN 1298Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
Many people in rural and regional Western Australia rely on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation as their only source of news, public announcements and natural disaster warnings.
Regarding the security arrangements for WA’s radio and telecommunications infrastructure in the wake of a military emergency or retaliation attack -
(1) What action has Western Australia’s Critical Infrastructure Group taken to safeguard the state’s radio and telecommunications infrastructure should a military emergency or retaliation attack occur?
(2) Did the Critical Infrastructure Group undertake consultations to ascertain what action needs to be taken to ensure the security of WA’s radio and telecommunications infrastructure in the event of a military emergency or retaliation attack?
(3) If yes to (2), which State Governmental Departments, Federal Governmental Departments, businesses and community organisations were involved in these consultations?
(4) Will the Critical Infrastructure Group be reporting on the actions that need to be taken to strengthen the State’s radio and telecommunications infrastructure?
(5) Who will be responsible for strengthening the current weaknesses in the State’s radio and telecommunications infrastructure?
(6) Has this process already started?
(7) If yes to (6), how long does the Government foresee this process will take?
(8) If yes to (6), what support, if any, is the Federal Government providing?
Regarding the security arrangements for WA’s radio and telecommunications infrastructure in the wake of a military emergency or retaliation attack -
(1) What action has Western Australia’s Critical Infrastructure Group taken to safeguard the state’s radio and telecommunications infrastructure should a military emergency or retaliation attack occur?
(2) Did the Critical Infrastructure Group undertake consultations to ascertain what action needs to be taken to ensure the security of WA’s radio and telecommunications infrastructure in the event of a military emergency or retaliation attack?
(3) If yes to (2), which State Governmental Departments, Federal Governmental Departments, businesses and community organisations were involved in these consultations?
(4) Will the Critical Infrastructure Group be reporting on the actions that need to be taken to strengthen the State’s radio and telecommunications infrastructure?
(5) Who will be responsible for strengthening the current weaknesses in the State’s radio and telecommunications infrastructure?
(6) Has this process already started?
(7) If yes to (6), how long does the Government foresee this process will take?
(8) If yes to (6), what support, if any, is the Federal Government providing?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
18 November 2003
Responded by
Leader of the House representing the Premier
Response time
33 days
The assessment project being undertaken in Western Australia is part of a proposal to develop a nationally consistent strategy for the coordination of the protection of identified critical infrastructure. During the course of the project many government and private agencies were contacted, however, it is not appropriate to discuss which agencies are involved. The project, which is nearly complete, did not focus solely on protection from terrorist or military attack but adopted an ‘all hazards approach’ using appropriate risk management standards. As the ownership of infrastructure is shared between government and private industry, both groups will need to address the security of their assets. Generally, the responsibility for, and the costs associated with, business continuity risk mitigation rests primarily with the owners and operators. The identification and protection of critical infrastructure is a complex matter and one that will need to be the subject of an ongoing process and regular review to keep abreast of change. It will require a consistent, cooperative partnership between government, owners and operators.
During the course of the project many government and private agencies were contacted, however, it is not appropriate to discuss which agencies are involved. The project, which is nearly complete, did not focus solely on protection from terrorist or military attack but adopted an ‘all hazards approach’ using appropriate risk management standards. As the ownership of infrastructure is shared between government and private industry, both groups will need to address the security of their assets. Generally, the responsibility for, and the costs associated with, business continuity risk mitigation rests primarily with the owners and operators. The identification and protection of critical infrastructure is a complex matter and one that will need to be the subject of an ongoing process and regular review to keep abreast of change. It will require a consistent, cooperative partnership between government, owners and operators.
The project, which is nearly complete, did not focus solely on protection from terrorist or military attack but adopted an ‘all hazards approach’ using appropriate risk management standards. As the ownership of infrastructure is shared between government and private industry, both groups will need to address the security of their assets. Generally, the responsibility for, and the costs associated with, business continuity risk mitigation rests primarily with the owners and operators. The identification and protection of critical infrastructure is a complex matter and one that will need to be the subject of an ongoing process and regular review to keep abreast of change. It will require a consistent, cooperative partnership between government, owners and operators.
As the ownership of infrastructure is shared between government and private industry, both groups will need to address the security of their assets. Generally, the responsibility for, and the costs associated with, business continuity risk mitigation rests primarily with the owners and operators. The identification and protection of critical infrastructure is a complex matter and one that will need to be the subject of an ongoing process and regular review to keep abreast of change. It will require a consistent, cooperative partnership between government, owners and operators.
The identification and protection of critical infrastructure is a complex matter and one that will need to be the subject of an ongoing process and regular review to keep abreast of change. It will require a consistent, cooperative partnership between government, owners and operators.
During the course of the project many government and private agencies were contacted, however, it is not appropriate to discuss which agencies are involved. The project, which is nearly complete, did not focus solely on protection from terrorist or military attack but adopted an ‘all hazards approach’ using appropriate risk management standards. As the ownership of infrastructure is shared between government and private industry, both groups will need to address the security of their assets. Generally, the responsibility for, and the costs associated with, business continuity risk mitigation rests primarily with the owners and operators. The identification and protection of critical infrastructure is a complex matter and one that will need to be the subject of an ongoing process and regular review to keep abreast of change. It will require a consistent, cooperative partnership between government, owners and operators.
The project, which is nearly complete, did not focus solely on protection from terrorist or military attack but adopted an ‘all hazards approach’ using appropriate risk management standards. As the ownership of infrastructure is shared between government and private industry, both groups will need to address the security of their assets. Generally, the responsibility for, and the costs associated with, business continuity risk mitigation rests primarily with the owners and operators. The identification and protection of critical infrastructure is a complex matter and one that will need to be the subject of an ongoing process and regular review to keep abreast of change. It will require a consistent, cooperative partnership between government, owners and operators.
As the ownership of infrastructure is shared between government and private industry, both groups will need to address the security of their assets. Generally, the responsibility for, and the costs associated with, business continuity risk mitigation rests primarily with the owners and operators. The identification and protection of critical infrastructure is a complex matter and one that will need to be the subject of an ongoing process and regular review to keep abreast of change. It will require a consistent, cooperative partnership between government, owners and operators.
The identification and protection of critical infrastructure is a complex matter and one that will need to be the subject of an ongoing process and regular review to keep abreast of change. It will require a consistent, cooperative partnership between government, owners and operators.
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