NATIONAL SECURITY – AUSTRALIA

It’s Official: Australians not concerned about mass facial recognition technology

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 11-Oct-17

A special Roy Morgan Snap SMS Survey has found that 67.5% of Australians are not concerned that "under anti-terror measures State Governments will provide driver licence photos for mass facial-recognition technology", while 32.5% are concerned. Analysis by Voting Intention shows that Greens supporters (59%) are more concerned about mass facial recognition technology than Labor supporters (33.5%) or Liberal-National Party supporters (19%). Meanwhile, analysis by gender shows little difference between women (33%) and men (32%) concerned about mass facial recognition technology, and analysis by Age shows that younger people (45% of those aged 18-24) are more likely to be concerned about mass facial recognition technology than older people (19% of those aged 65+).

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA

Terror cell ‘planned gas attack’

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Original article by Paul Maley
The Australian – Page: 1 & 6 : 31-Jul-17

Security has been boosted at Australian airports following the arrest of four men in Sydney on 30 July 2017. The four men, who are believed to be related, are suspected of plotting to bring down an aircraft by setting off a device that would have filled the plane with poisonous gas. It is understood that the arrests followed the receipt of information from a foreign intelligence service, and that the suspects were being assisted by Islamic State terrorists in Syria.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN SECURITY INTELLIGENCE ORGANISATION, AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE

Jury out on Turnbull security overhaul

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 19-Jul-17

Professor John Blaxland of the Australian National University is among those to have questioned the merits of the Federal Government’s move to create a national security "super-portfolio". Immigration and Border Protection Minister Peter Dutton will be in charge of the new Department of Home Affairs, which will embrace his existing portfolio as well as agencies such as ASIO, the Australian Federal Police and AUSTRAC. Some members of the Liberal Party’s moderate faction have also expressed reservations about the changes.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF IMMIGRATION AND BORDER PROTECTION, AUSTRALIAN SECURITY INTELLIGENCE ORGANISATION, AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE, AUSTRALIA. ATTORNEY-GENERAL’S DEPT. AUSTRALIAN TRANSACTION REPORTS AND ANALYSIS CENTRE, AUSTRALIAN CRIMINAL INTELLIGENCE COMMISSION, AUSTRALIA. OFFICE OF TRANSPORT SECURITY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR-GENERAL OF INTELLIGENCE AND SECURITY, AUSTRALIA. INDEPENDENT NATIONAL SECURITY LEGISLATION MONITOR, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF DEFENCE

PM to opt for security super agency

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 18-Jul-17

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull appears set to go ahead with the creation of a new national security "super-portfolio". The proposed new department, which would be headed by Immigration Minister Peter Dutton, would see Dutton assume control of agencies such as the Australian Federal Police and ASIO, along with border protection. The concept does not have total support within the Coalition, with Defence Minister Marise Payne and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop among those to have previously expressed misgivings about the idea.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF IMMIGRATION AND BORDER PROTECTION, AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE, AUSTRALIAN SECURITY INTELLIGENCE ORGANISATION, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE, AUSTRALIA. ATTORNEY-GENERAL’S DEPT, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF DEFENCE, GREAT BRITAIN. HOME OFFICE, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FINANCE, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

Ausgrid HK bidder asks, ‘why us?’

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Original article by Phillip Coorey, Lisa Murray
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 4 : 12-Aug-16

Federal Treasurer Scott Morrison’s preliminary decision to block bids by Hong Kong’s Cheung Kong Infrastructure and China’s State Grid for a 50.4 per cent stake in Ausgrid is likely to antagonise the Chinese Government. Morrison justified his decision by citing national security concerns. Former ambassador to China Geoff Raby has spoken about new populism in Australia while Bob Carr, the former premier of New South Wales and now director of the Australia-China Relations Institute, has accused the Federal Government of xenophobia.

CORPORATES
AUSGRID PTY LTD, STATE GRID CORPORATION OF CHINA, CHEUNG KONG INFRASTRUCTURE HOLDINGS LIMITED, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, NEW SOUTH WALES. THE TREASURY, ONE NATION PARTY, KATTER’S AUSTRALIAN PARTY, PORT OF DARWIN, AUSTRALIAN SECURITY INTELLIGENCE ORGANISATION, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. FOREIGN INVESTMENT REVIEW BOARD, NEW SOUTH WALES. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET, UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, SYDNEY. AUSTRALIA-CHINA RELATIONS INSTITUTE

Morrison may block China sale

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Original article by Primrose Riordan
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 6 : 8-Aug-16

The New South Wales Government’s partial privatisation of Ausgrid could be blocked on the grounds of national security. Cheung Kong Infrastructure and China’s State Grid Corporation are expected to pay about $A10bn for a 50.4 per cent stake in the electricity grid, via a 99-year lease. However, the deal must be approved by the Foreign Investment Review Board, and federal Treasurer Scott Morrison says national security will be the main consideration. Several MPs and senators have expressed concern about the proposed sale of Ausgrid.

CORPORATES
AUSGRID PTY LTD, STATE GRID CORPORATION OF CHINA, CHEUNG KONG INFRASTRUCTURE HOLDINGS LIMITED, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIA. FOREIGN INVESTMENT REVIEW BOARD, ONE NATION PTY LTD, NICK XENOPHON TEAM, AUSTRALIAN STRATEGIC POLICY INSTITUTE LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN TAXATION OFFICE, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, TRANSGRID, S KIDMAN AND COMPANY PTY LTD, UNIONS NSW, NEW SOUTH WALES. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET

Show of force as Aussies fly for Easter

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Original article by Paul Maley
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 24-Mar-16

Australian airport security staff have cancelled proposed strike action in the wake of the Muslim terrorist attacks in Brussels. Australian Federal Police will ramp up security at the nation’s airports during the Easter long weekend, which is traditionally a popular time for Australians to travel by air. Meanwhile, Homeland Security Asia-Pacific director Roger Henning has warned that Sydney Airport’s design is almost identical to Zaventem airport in Brussels, which was targeted by the Islamic extremists.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE, HOMELAND SECURITY PTY LTD, SYDNEY AIRPORT – ASX SYD, BRUSSELS AIRPORT, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN SECURITY INTELLIGENCE ORGANISATION, AUSTRALIA. ATTORNEY-GENERAL’S DEPT, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF IMMIGRATION AND BORDER PROTECTION

Security ‘key to foreign investing’

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Original article by Brendan Nicholson
The Australian – Page: 2 : 18-Jan-16

Offshore investment in key Australian infrastructure is under scrutiny in the wake of the Northern Territory Government’s deal to lease the Port of Darwin to a Chinese company. The Australian Strategic Policy Institu­te’s submission to a Senate inquiry argues that the existing procedures for assessing proposed foreign investments are insufficient. It adds that while Australia must continue to welcome offshore investment, the question of national security must be given precedence.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN STRATEGIC POLICY INSTITUTE LIMITED, AUSTRALIA. FOREIGN INVESTMENT REVIEW BOARD, AUSTRALIA. NATIONAL SECURITY COMMITTEE, PORT OF DARWIN, LANDBRIDGE GROUP COMPANY LIMITED, AUSTRALIA. SENATE STANDING COMMITTEE ON ECONOMICS, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF DEFENCE, AUSTRALIAN SECURITY INTELLIGENCE ORGANISATION, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, UNITED STATES. EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ

Greste warns against media curbs

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Original article by Rosie Lewis
The Australian – Page: 4 : 11-Dec-15

Australian journalist Peter Greste was presented with the Human Rights Medal by Human Rights Commission president Gillian Triggs on 10 December 2015. Greste used his speech to express concern about the potential impact of the Federal Government’s national security laws on free speech and freedom of the press.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION, AL JAZEERA

Feeling unsafe joins economic fears: poll

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Original article by Greg Earl
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 16-Jun-15

The Lowy Institute for International Policy has released the findings of an opinion poll on issues such as national security and the Australian economy. Some 89 per cent of respondents identified Islamic State as the greatest security threat in the next 10 years. Meanwhile, 43 per cent expect solar power to be the nation’s main source of electricity within a decade. The proportion of respondents who are upbeat about the economic outlook has fallen from 86 per cent in 2009-10 to just 63 per cent.

CORPORATES
LOWY INSTITUTE FOR INTERNATIONAL POLICY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET