STATE SECURITY

Ministerial Security Commitee
State Crisis Centre
Security and Emergency Management Advisory Group
State Security Unit
Emergency Management Arrangements

In a terrorist situation or period of significant threat, the Ministerial Security Committee has ultimate responsibility for Tasmanian strategies relating to counter-terrorism.

The Chair of the Ministerial Security Committee is the Premier of Tasmania. The Deputy Premier and Minister for Police and Emergency management are permanent members of the committee. Other ministers may attend at the invitation of the Premier. The Committee also includes the Secretary, Department of Premier and Cabinet and the Commissioner of Police.

The State Crisis Centre (SCC) is activated when an incident is imminent or has already occurred. The SCC provides overall strategic direction and coordinates counter-terrorism responses in consultation with the operations centres of Police and other emergency services. The SCC also liaises with the National Crisis Centre and crisis centres in other jurisdictions.

Present at the SCC will be the Secretary, Department of Premier and Cabinet, the Commissioner of Police, other senior members of the emergency services and other key policy advisers as may be required.

Effective crisis management requires coordination of processes and resources from many areas of Government. The Security and Emergency Management Advisory Group (SEMAG) provides policy advice to the Government, monitors State-wide security capability and reviews security plans and arrangements. It provides advice to the State Emergency Management Committee (SEMC). It also provides a link with the private sector and federal agencies. The SEMAG meets regularly and is not just activated in a crisis situation.

The SEMAG comprises:

The functions of the SEMAG involve:

Each member of the SEMAG advises in relation to his/her area of responsibility. During an security or emergency incident members provide direct support to the State Crisis Centre.

The State Security Unit, which is located within the Department of Police and Emergency Management, provides a focal point for strategies, activities, and projects involving counter-terrorism.

The role of the Sate Security Unit is to:

• Liaise with the private and non-government sector in relation to counter terrorism issues;
• Provide research and policy advice on counter-terrorism and security-related issues to Government;
• Identify critical infrastructure and advise owner/operators in relation to risk assessment and risk management plans;
• Audit security plans and conduct exercises in relation to critical infrastructure protection;
• Communicate information on changing threat levels and special advisories received from the Australian Government or other sources;
• Coordinate the procurement and maintenance of counter-terrorism equipment;
• Develop and manage a counter-terrorism exercise and training regime;
• Liaise with other State and Australian Government agencies in relation to counter-terrorism.
• Establish and maintain the capability to respond quickly and effectively to specific terrorist threats; and
• Identify equipment and training needs of specialist units.

Call the State Security Unit on (03) 6230 2500 or email enquiries@statesecurity.tas.gov.au

The State Emergency Management Committee (SEMC) is established by the Emergency Management Act 2006. Its primary role is to develop, and monitor the implementation of emergency management policy in Tasmania.

The Commissioner of Police chairs the SEMC. The Committee also comprises the Secretary, Department of Premier and Cabinet (DPAC) and the Director of the State Emergency Service. Since 2001 the group has been informally expanded to include representatives of other emergency service agencies and the Director of the SSU.

The SEMC is supported by a range of sub-committees, including:

• Nuclear Powered Warships Visits Committee;
• Community Recovery Committee;
• State Emergency Media Committee;
• State Emergency Medical Committee;
• State Marine Pollution Committee;
• Tasmanian Coronial Services Committee;
• Tasmanian Disaster Victim Identification Committee;
• Tasmanian Hazardous Materials Management Committee;
• Tasmanian Petroleum Products Emergency Management Committee;
• Radio Users Group;
• Tasmanian Search & Rescue Committee;
• Region Disaster Planning Groups;
• Region Community Recovery Committees;
• Region Search & Rescue Liaison Committees; and
• Local Government Emergency Management Committees.

The SEMC is responsible for the Tasmanian Emergency Management Plan. There are also three regional emergency management plans and 29 municipal emergency management plans. Plans have also been prepared in relation to specific risks, including visits of nuclear powered warships, hazardous materials and animal diseases such as Foot & Mouth. All emergency management plans are currently being reviewed to include consideration of counter-terrorism issues.