Annual Report 2003-04

Intelligence and Security Group

The intelligence function of the Intelligence and Security Group is reported in Chapter Two - Outcome Six. The achievements of the security function of the Group are detailed below.

Defence Security Authority

The Defence Security Authority's role is to coordinate security across Defence. Under the leadership of Deputy Secretary Intelligence and Security, the Authority works with ADF commanders, Defence executives and Defence industry to protect Defence's people, information and assets. The Authority is responsible for:

• development of security policy;
• provision of specialist security services, such as vetting and threat assessment;
• delivery of security training and awareness across Defence;
• management of security performance assessment;
• undertaking serious and complex security investigations; and
• security advice to Defence industry.

Results for 2003-04

The Defence Security Authority works with the Service Chiefs and Group Heads on the five strategic themes that guide its performance:

• help Defence to secure its capability;
• fulfil stewardship expectations;
• integrate security into Defence capability;
• strive for business excellence; and
• build an effective and adaptive security authority.

The strategic themes were reviewed and updated in November 2003 and remain consistent with previous themes. Achievement against these themes is outlined below.

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Help Defence Secure its Capability

During 2003-2004, the Defence Security Authority reviewed the currency and application of protective security policy and re-drafted the Defence Security Manual. The manual is designed to reflect the most recent draft of the Commonwealth Protective Security Manual and world best-practice. In addition, the Authority worked with the Defence Intelligence Organisation and the Services to revise counter-intelligence policy to better integrate this activity across Defence. This has led to an improvement in Defence's ability to conduct counter-intelligence in a coalition environment.

Defence has significantly reduced the backlog of personnel security vetting requests. There are now minimal delays in processing clearances and significant business improvements have been achieved. Electronic vetting packs were introduced during 2003-04 and are being progressively implemented. The Authority has re-validated all overdue Top Secret and Secret clearances and, where necessary, work has commenced on the re-evaluation of these clearances.

The security performance assessment program continues to provide assurance to Defence senior leadership on the Defence Security Authority and the whole-of-Defence security performance through self-assessment, evaluations of Defence sites and targeted site reviews. The first review was conducted in December 2003, and lessons learnt from the program are being integrated into Defence policy and security awareness campaigns.

Defence continues, through the Safebase security alert system, to implement coordinated, incremental protective security measures, in response to the assessed level of threat to personnel and assets within Australia. Under this system, various Defence facilities received security upgrades during 2003-04 including the installation of surveillance cameras, upgraded alarm systems and improved security of base perimeters. Ongoing funding provides personnel to control access to, patrols of, and conduct mail examination at, Defence facilities. Security at Defence establishments is regularly reviewed and Defence works closely with a number of Government agencies to determine the appropriate level of alert.

Fulfil Stewardship Expectations

The Defence Security Authority maintains a strong commitment to ensuring accurate and transparent performance reporting and regularly provides reports on its protective security status to the Defence Committee and Commonwealth forums. The Defence Security and Counter Intelligence Committee, chaired by Deputy Secretary Intelligence and Security, provides oversight and coordination of Defence's security and counter-intelligence activities.

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Integrate Security into Defence Capability

The Defence Security Authority conducts security training and awareness primarily for Defence civilians and ADF personnel in joint units. The Authority has trained 932 Unit/Facility Security Officers during 2003-04 and provided 212 security awareness presentations for 8,514 personnel.

Security-specific questions in the 2003 annual Defence attitude survey indicated an improvement in individuals' perception of their supervisor's security awareness and reflected the investment Defence has made in security awareness activities.

The Defence Security Authority has continued to expand the variety of methods used to improve security awareness. During the past year, the Authority introduced a quarterly security newsletter, issue-specific brochures and orientation packs for personnel receiving a security clearance. The Authority has placed emphasis on drawing from lessons learnt from security incidents to develop these products.

Strive for Business Excellence

The Defence Security Authority continues to work with the Navy, Army and Air Force to ensure that Defence security issues and policy are addressed in line with Service-specific requirements and are consistent with Commonwealth security policy.

Personnel security requirements within Defence have been critically examined to determine the extent to which recruitment and vetting processes are aligned with, and supportive of, each other.

Build an Effective and Adaptive Security Authority

The Defence Security Authority's national recruitment campaign in 2001 provided a strong foundation for the development of a stable and flexible workforce of generalists and security specialists, from both the public and private sector. The Authority has built upon this foundation and, with the re-integration of the positive vetting area into the Authority, has consolidated a professional and dedicated workforce to provide high quality security services to Defence. A substantial part of that workforce has been focused on, and reduced, the personnel security clearance backlog.

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