SECURITY OF DEFENCE WEAPONS AND MUNITIONS

Recent developments have highlighted issues relating to the arrangements designed to secure Defence weapons, munitions and explosives. The Government takes this issue very seriously.

Defence is continuing to cooperate fully with the relevant police investigations into the alleged theft of Defence weapons and munitions.

In addition to the support Defence is providing to the investigations, a range of measures is being taken immediately to strengthen security and confirm stockholdings. These are:

• Further issue of the 66mm light anti-armour weapon is suspended until end-January, except for authorised operational needs.
• Current holdings of this light anti-armour weapon are being checked to ensure all munitions are accounted for. Some of these are deployed on operations; I am advised that all current stocks held within Australia are accounted for.
• Historical accounting records for the light anti-armour weapon are also being examined.

In relation to the alleged theft of weapons and munitions from Puckapunyal, I am advised that current holdings of all weapons and munitions there have also been checked and accounted for.

Further to those immediate measures, I have agreed that a comprehensive audit of the security policies and practices that apply to Defence weapons, munitions and explosives be undertaken.

This will be led by the Defence Security Authority, with assistance from Defence’s Inspector-General. The audit will be overseen by a board that will include a representative from the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation. The Australian National Audit Office will have observer status.

The initial focus of this audit is the security arrangements that apply to the 66mm light anti-armour weapon. A report from that initial phase will be completed by the end of January 2007. The second phase will be completed in the first half of 2007 and will examine all security aspects of the policies and practices that apply to the management of weapons, munitions and explosives across Defence.