Security threats to Australians in South East Asia
On 24 March 2003, the Senate referred the following matters to the Foreign Affairs,
Defence and Trade References Committee for inquiry and report by 26 June
2003. On 14 May 2003, the Senate extended the reporting date to 4
November 2003. On 9 March 2004, the Committee sought and the Senate
subsequently agreed to a further extension of time to 13 May 2004.
On 30 March the Senate agreed that the reporting time be extended to 24
June 2004. On 21 June 2004, the Senate agreed that the reporting date be
extended to 5 August 2004. On 3 August 2005, the Senate agreed that
the reporting date be extended to 12 August 2004.
TERMS OF REFERENCE
The following matter has been referred to the Senate Foreign Affairs,
Defence and Trade References Committee for inquiry and report by 26 June
2003:
The performance of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
(DFAT) and other relevant agencies of the Commonwealth Government in the
assessment and dissemination of threats to the security of Australians
in South East Asia in the period 11 September 2001 to 12 October 2002,
including:
a) The assessment made by DFAT and other relevant agencies of the Commonwealth
Government of the threat to Australians in South East Asia from al Qaeda
(and associated terrorist organisations) prior to 11 September 2001.
b)
Any change in the assessment of the threat to Australians
in South East Asia from these terrorist organisations arising from the
terrorist events of 11 September 2001 and the decision by Australia to
participate in military actions with other coalition partners against
al Qaeda in Afghanistan in November 2001.
c)
Any further changes in the assessment of the threat to Australians
in South East Asia from these terrorist organisations arising from the
arrest and interrogation of the so-called ‘Singapore bombers’ in the period
December 2001 to February 2002.
d)
Any further change in threat assessments to Australians in South
East Asia arising from the arrest and interrogation of Omar al-Faruq.
e)
Any subregional variations on the assessment of the threat
to Australians in South East Asia in the period 11 September 2001 to 12
October 2002, in particular within Indonesia including Jakarta and Bali.
f)
Any differences between the assessments of the threat made
by DFAT and other Commonwealth Government agencies, and the assessments
of the threat made by the United Kingdom, the United States, New
Zealand, Singapore and Canada over the security of their nationals
for the same period.
g)
Any differences between the assessments of the threat made
by DFAT and other related agencies of the Commonwealth Government and
the content of the travel advisories, embassy bulletins and travel
bulletins provided by DFAT over the period 11 September 2001 and 12 October
2002.
h)
Any differences between DFAT travel advisories, travel bulletins
and embassy bulletins between the period 11 September 2001 and 12 October
2002.
i)
DFAT's conclusions of any deficiencies in the assessment system
and the system for preparing travel advisories, travel bulletins and embassy
bulletins in the period 11 September 2001 to 12 October 2002.
j)
DFAT's conclusions on improvements to the dissemination of travel
advisories, travel bulletins and embassy bulletins to the Australian travelling
public in the future.
Submissions received
Public hearings
Answers to questions on notice
28 May 2004 -
Dept of Foreign Affairs and Trade - (PDF 245KB)
15 July 2004 - Dept of
Foreign Affairs and Trade - (PDF 171KB)
28 May 2004 - Dept of Defence - (PDF 215KB)
28 November 2003 - Dept of
Foreign Affairs and Trade - (PDF 1318KB)
20 June 2003 - Dept of Defence - (PDF 175KB)
19 June 2003 - ASIO - (PDF 58KB)
Tabled documents
2 December 2003 - ASIO
list of terrorist attacks - (PDF 41KB)
Report - Tabled 12 August 2004
Government response (PDF
format)
For further information
The Secretariat
Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee
Suite S1.57
Parliament House
CANBERRA ACT 2600
AUSTRALIA
Mr Brenton Holmes, Secretary (61+2) 6277 3535
Fax (61+2) 6277 5818
Email fadt.sen@aph.gov.au