The undetected landing on the New South Wales north coast of a vessel
carrying illegal immigrants raises serious issues regarding Australia's
coastal surveillance arrangements which require a prompt response.
I have decided to establish a Prime Ministerial Task Force, to be
chaired by the Secretary of my department, to conduct a thorough review
of the issues involved and to make recommendations to me on the strengthening
of the coastal surveillance procedures and systems.
The terms of reference of the task force are attached. The task force
will include the Chief of the Defence Force, the secretaries of the
departments of Defence and Immigration and Multicultural Affairs,
the CEO of the Australian Customs Service and the Director General
of the Office of National Assessments.
The task force will consider the report currently being prepared for
the government by Air Vice Marshall Alan Heggen (retired) into the
illegal landing of immigrants at Cairns in March and Nambucca Heads
on 10 April. I have asked that AVM Heggen's report be expedited
and that it be concluded by the end of April.
The task force will report its findings to the Government in June
1999.
12 April 1999
The task force shall be chaired by the Secretary Department
of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and include:
* Chief of the Defence Force;
* Secretary Department of Defence;
* Secretary Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs;
* Chief Executive Officer Australian Customs Service; and
* Director General Office of National Assessments.
The task force membership may be expanded if considered appropriate.
The task force will prepare a report on the following matters as they
relate to coastal surveillance:
* Intelligence gathering and analysis;
* The ability of the current aircraft and equipment of Coastwatch
to cover Australia's 37,000km coastline;
* The interface between Coastwatch and Defence/intelligence capabilities;
and
* Other related issues the task force may identify during its
work.
In finalising their report, the task force will consider the report
of Air Vice Marshall Heggen (retired) into the landing by illegal
immigrants at Cairns and Nambucca Heads in March and April 1999 respectively.
The task force will report its findings to the Prime Minister in June 1999.
12 April 1999