APSM Editor’s Desk
We live in a remarkable age, with many modern opportunities and many challenges. And when we are talking about what happens on the online world with the internet, where we are with the digital age in which we live, we should never forget the opportunities it is giving us… But with all of those opportunities, there are actually new risks as well and we need to face up to those new risks. Prime Minister of Australia Julia Gillard launching bCyberwise, 16 January 2013, a week before announcing a new Australian Cyber Security Centre.
Dear Readers,
In this our first retail edition of the Asia Pacific Security Magazine (in a store near you!) we have a special interview with Australia’s Ambassador to Indonesia, H.E. Mr. Greg Moriarty. We discuss the US-China strategic competition, policing and defence cooperation, The Lombok Treaty, Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership (IACEP) and the Bali Process to handle people smuggling and trafficking. Importantly, Australia is recognising the major changes underway in Indonesia as it develops to become one of the top 10 economies of the world in the next decade.
At the other end of the industry spectrum, we examine the Australian security professional and the ongoing issue of cross state border licensing. The prohibitive and expensive government ‘red tape’ put in place by individual states compromises Australia’s leading security professionals, nationally. As the Australian Prime Minister launched a new National Security Strategy last month, the strategy failed to recognise the private security sector and the role it plays in keeping Australia safe and secure. Indeed, the private security sector is ignored in the plan altogether, instead focusing on defence, police and intelligence agencies – all subject to significant budgetary restraints. To highlight the fact, Queensland Police have commenced a major cost cutting exercise by reducing police districts and removing over 100 senior management positions.
Changes in policing and defence structures as a result of budgetary difficulties signal that policing and defence are no longer career vocations. I recall former WA Police Commissioner, Bob Falconer saying during his WA Police ‘Delta’ change management reform that the vocational lifespan of a police officer into the future would be little more than 10 years. Tenure has become more about being in the frontline and being much lighter on administration and supervision. The time has come in Australian law enforcement and defence that much more must be done with a lot less.
Policing privatisation is underway in the United Kingdom and naturally these changes draw some criticism, notably the 2012 Olympics ‘security officer’ shortfalls – but these mistakes lead to learning and conflict resolution – in the longer term these arrangements will (or should) be much more robust for the experiences – and Australia and the rest of the Asia Pacific should be examining what is occurring in the UK and the USA in times of austerity in western societies – albeit as the risks increase in forms such as cyber warfare and organised crime. It is precisely these threats that make the private security sector much more important and justifies why the industry should be recognised formally as a profession and introduction of national licensing regimes. New regulatory models are required to improve efficiencies and cut unnecessary red tape. Federal and State authorities have a duty to address these issues and a duty to support Australian security professionals, at a local, as well as, national level.
Australia’s selection on UN Security Council Counter Terrorism committees and the release of the National Security Strategy definitely improves Australia’s capacity to influence and hopefully forge consensus in the region. An example has been seen already with Australia and the United Kingdom coming to an agreement at the fifth Australia-UK Ministerial Consultations (AUKMIN) in Perth, Western Australia. The two countries agreed to look for opportunities to get better results for their money through cooperative action and resource sharing. They signed a MOU to permit exchange of diplomatic staff and each country will contribute funding to programs administered by the other through delegated cooperation arrangements. These are tiny steps, but they’re in the right direction.
Stay tuned with us as we continue to explore, educate, entertain and most importantly, engage. I look forward to hearing from you and encourage to connect with us and retain My Security Media as your personal professional library, willing to listen and accessible anytime, anywhere.
Yours sincerely,
Chris Cubbage CPP, GAICD
APSM Executive Editor
NEXT ISSUE HIGHLIGHTS
- Feature interview with Australia’s Ambassador to China.
- New Zealand Defence Policy in the 21st century
- National Cyber Security – Are we already at War?
- SmartCity Feature – Will cities be more secure in the digital age?
