Australia’s Cyber Security Strategy
This Cyber Security Strategy sets out the Australian Government’s philosophy and program for meeting the dual challenges of the digital age—advancing and protecting Australia’s interests online. This strategy establishes five themes of action for Australia’s cyber security over the next four years to 2020: a national cyber partnership, strong cyber defences, global responsibility and influence, growth and innovation, a cyber smart nation.
The strategy is available on the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet website.
Published April 2016.
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Australia’s Counter-Terrorism Strategy
Australia’s Counter-Terrorism Strategy is a Council of Australian Governments document that outlines the current terrorist threat that Australia is facing, and what our governments are doing about it. It focusses on five core elements: challenging violent extremist ideologies, stopping people from becoming terrorists, shaping the global environment to counter terrorism, disrupting terrorist activity within Australia and having effective responses and recovery should an attack occur.
Published July 2015
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Review of the Commonwealth's counter terrorism arrangements
The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has released the Review of the Commonwealth's counter terrorism (CT) arrangements to ensure that the CT arrangements are as well-organised, targeted and effective as possible. The report is available on the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet website.
Tabled February 2015.
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Martin Place Siege: Joint Commonwealth—New South Wales Review
This review, jointly commissioned by the Prime Minister of Australia and the Premier of New South Wales the day following the end of the siege, is the first official government review of the incident. The review analysed the events that led up to the siege and the range of interactions Man Haron Monis had with agencies including the criminal justice system, beginning with his arrival in Australia. The review is available on the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet website.
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Terrorism financing in Australia 2014
AUSTRAC has released the Terrorism financing in Australia 2014 report to strengthen the national response to the serious threat of terrorism financing by improving industry and public awareness. The report uses real cases and intelligence to present a consolidated picture of Australian terrorism financing risks, vulnerabilities and methods. The report is available on the AUSTRAC website.
Tabled September 2014.
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ASIO report to Parliament 2015–16
The ASIO report to Parliament 2015–16 is a publicly available version of the highly classified ASIO Annual Report, and provides insight into ASIO's outcomes and activities. It is available on the ASIO website.
Tabled October 2016.
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National Code of Practice for Chemicals of Security Concern
The Australian Government, together with state and territory governments, businesses and industry sectors, developed the National Code of Practice for Chemicals of Security Concern. The code provides guidance to sectors who work with one or more of the 11 high-risk chemicals that could be used to make homemade bombs.
NOTE: The code refers to the National Terrorism Public Alert System. This system has been replaced by the National Terrorism Threat Advisory System.
Published July 2013.
Guide to Australia's National Security Capability
The Guide to Australia's National Security Capability provides an overview of Australia's national security capability planning. It identifies the functions performed by the national security community and how these achieve the objectives outlined in the government’s national security strategy released in 2013.
Published August 2013.
Guide to Australia's National Security Capability [PDF 456MB]
Guide to Australia's National Security Capability [DOC 1.4MB]
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Active Shooter Guidelines for Places of Mass Gathering
The Active Shooter Guidelines for Places of Mass Gathering aims to increase understanding of the threat that active shooter incidents pose and seeks to illustrate the key role that the private sector can play in developing and implementing informed prevention, preparedness, response and recovery arrangements to reduce the risks posed by such a threat.
Second edition published 2015.
Active Shooter Guidelines for Places of Mass Gathering [PDF 1.97MB]
Active Shooter Guidelines for Places of Mass Gathering [DOCX 67KB]
Active shooter guidelines for places of mass gathering—Appendix A [PDF 267KB]
Active shooter guidelines for places of mass gathering—Appendix A [DOCX 84KB]
Active shooter guidelines for places of mass gathering—Appendix B [PDF 296KB]
Active shooter guidelines for places of mass gathering—Appendix B [DOCX 86KB]
Active shooter guidelines for places of mass gathering—Appendix C [PDF 318KB]
Active shooter guidelines for places of mass gathering—Appendix C [DOCX 90KB]
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Improvised Explosive Devices Guidelines for Places of Mass Gathering
The Improvised Explosive Device Guidelines for Places of Mass Gathering help people who own or operate places of mass gathering to be more aware of the threat that IED incidents pose. They also provide guidance on the issues and options to consider during risk mitigation and contingency planning activities.
Improvised Explosive Device Guidelines for Places of Mass Gathering [PDF 2.5MB]
Improvised Explosive Device Guidelines for Places of Mass Gathering [DOCX 84KB]
Improvised Explosive Device Guidelines for Places of Mass Gathering—Appendix A [PDF 139KB]
Improvised Explosive Device Guidelines for Places of Mass Gathering—Appendix A [DOCX 46KB]
Improvised Explosive Device Guidelines for Places of Mass Gathering—Appendix B [PDF 150KB]
Improvised Explosive Device Guidelines for Places of Mass Gathering—Appendix B [DOCX 47KB]
Improvised Explosive Device Guidelines for Places of Mass Gathering—Appendix C [PDF 274KB]
Improvised Explosive Device Guidelines for Places of Mass Gathering—Appendix C [DOCX 48KB]
Improvised Explosive Device Guidelines for Places of Mass Gathering—Appendix D [PDF 142KB]
Improvised Explosive Device Guidelines for Places of Mass Gathering—Appendix D [DOCX 48KB]
Improvised Explosive Device Guidelines for Places of Mass Gathering—Appendix E [PDF 50KB]
Improvised Explosive Device Guidelines for Places of Mass Gathering—Appendix E [DOCX 143KB]
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Defence White Paper 2016
The Defence White Paper 2016 released on 25 February 2016 delivers on the Government’s commitment to the safety of the Australian people and to the defence our territory and national interests. The white paper is available on the Department of Defence website.
Published February 2016.
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National Counter-Terrorism Plan
The National counter-terrorism plan sets out Australia's strategic approach to preventing and dealing with acts of terrorism in Australia. It outlines how the combined resources of law enforcement, security, intelligence and emergency service agencies are used to prevent and deal with terrorist incidents or threats.
Third edition published 2012.
NOTE: The National Counter-Terrorism Plan is currently under review. The plan refers to the National Terrorism Public Alert System. This system has been replaced by the National Terrorism Threat Advisory System.
National counter-terrorism plan—Third edition [PDF 512KB]
National counter-terrorism plan—Third edition [DOC 844KB]
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Australia’s counter-terrorism laws
This brochure explains Australia's counter-terrorism laws and includes information on terrorist act offences, terrorist organisations and related offences, preventative detention, investigating a terrorist offence, control orders and terrorism financing. It is also available in Arabic, Chinese, French, Indonesian, Malaysian, Spanish, Turkish and Vietnamese.
Published 2011.
Australia's counter-terrorism laws—English [PDF 72KB]
Australia's counter-terrorism laws—English [DOC 1.82MB]
Australia's counter-terrorism laws—Arabic [PDF 861KB
Australia's counter-terrorism laws—Arabic [DOC 296KB]
Australia's counter-terrorism laws—Chinese [PDF 888KB]
Australia's counter-terrorism laws—Chinese [DOC 72KB]
Australia's counter-terrorism laws—French [PDF 717KB]
Australia's counter-terrorism laws—French [DOC 98KB]
Australia's counter-terrorism laws—Indonesian [PDF 713KB]
Australia's counter-terrorism laws—Indonesian [DOC 96KB]
Australia's counter-terrorism laws—Malaysian [PDF 712KB]
Australia's counter-terrorism laws—Malaysian [DOC 72KB]
Australia's counter-terrorism laws—Spanish [PDF 739KB]
Australia's counter-terrorism laws—Spanish [DOC 73KB]
Australia's counter-terrorism laws—Turkish [PDF 821KB]
Australia's counter-terrorism laws—Turkish [DOC 94KB]
Australia's counter-terrorism laws—Vietnamese [PDF 827KB]
Australia's counter-terrorism laws—Vietnamese [DOC 90KB]
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National guidelines for the protection of places of mass gatherings from terrorism
The National guidelines for the protection of places of mass gatherings from terrorism were developed to ensure that all Australian jurisdictions take a nationally consistent approach to developing their own guidelines for the protection of places of mass gathering from terrorism.
Published 2011.
National guidelines for the protection of places of mass gatherings from terrorism [PDF 333KB]
National guidelines for the protection of places of mass gatherings from terrorism [DOC 71KB]
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National Guidelines for the Protection of Critical Infrastructure from Terrorism
The National guidelines for the protection of critical infrastructure from terrorism provide the framework for a national, consistent approach for governments and business in protecting critical infrastructure.
Second edition published 2015.
National Guidelines for Protecting Critical Infrastructure from Terrorism [PDF 2MB]
National Guidelines for Protecting Critical Infrastructure from Terrorism [DOCX 170KB]
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Critical Infrastructure Resilience Strategy
The Critical Infrastructure Resilience Strategy outlines the Australian Government's approach to critical infrastructure resilience. It is available on the Trusted Information Sharing Network website.
Published May 2015.
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