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Keeping watch
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Part of the Australian government’s recently-released 2006-2007 budget proposal covers border protection and deterrence of illegal activities, including illegal fishing, people smuggling, and other criminal or even potentially terrorist activities. This coordinated, whole-of-government approach to protecting Australia’s northern borders will also extend to command changes. The Joint Offshore Protection Command (JOPC) will now assume responsibility for operational coordination and control for civil maritime enforcement activities. The creation of this single command centre to undertake planning, surveillance, intelligence analysis and deployments.

Upgraded efforts include:

• $95.6 million over four years to enable Defence to operate two Huon Class Coastal Mine Hunters, who can also engage in surveillance and patrolling

• An additional $20.2 million to enable Customs to increase the number of surveillance flights over the high threat approaches to Australia’s north by 2,200 hours. This ties directly into Australia’s innovative $1 billion Coastwatch public-private partnership;

• $12.1 million in 2006-07 to continue Operation RELEX II, which will enable Defence to continue to detect and deter unauthorized arrivals across Australia’s northern approaches.

• $388.9 million under an integrated whole-of-government plan to combat illegal foreign fishing in northern Australian waters. The goal is to more than double the number of illegal foreign fishing boats that are apprehended each year. Agencies involved include the Australian Customs Service (who runs Coastwatch), Australian Fisheries Management Authority, Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Department of Defence, Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Attorney-General’s Department, Australian Federal Police and Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions.