Joint media release - Senator The Hon Chris Ellison, Minister for Justice and Customs and The Hon Dr Brendan Nelson, Minister for Defence

The Howard Government is committed to strengthening the protection of Australia's borders against a number of recognised threats, including illegal foreign fishing and people smuggling.

Included in the Government's 2006-07 Budget is additional funding for a wide range of initiatives to further enhance our ability to detect, deter and respond to illegal activity in and around Australia's borders. These initiatives will provide additional resources and build on activities already underway to ensure the integrity of our borders and preserve Australian sovereignty.

Defence and Customs' efforts to detect, intercept and deter potential illegal activities in coastal and off-shore regions will be increased by:

• Funding of $95.6 million over four years to enable Defence to operate two Huon Class Coastal Mine Hunters, ensuring increased surveillance and patrolling of Australia's high threat maritime approaches;
• 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; and
• Funding of $12.1 million in 2006-07 to continue Operation RELEX II, which will enable Defence to continue to detect and deter unauthorised arrivals across Australia's northern approaches.

In addition to these initiatives, the Howard Government has announced a comprehensive $388.9 million plan to combat illegal foreign fishing in northern Australian waters. Under an integrated whole-of-government plan, the Australian Customs Service, 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 will be provided with the resources to more than double the number of illegal foreign fishing boats that are apprehended each year.

As part of the new plan, 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 will facilitate a coordinated, whole-of-government approach to protecting Australia's northern borders.

The Minister for Defence, Dr Brendan Nelson said these initiatives were further examples of the effectiveness of the Australian Government's cross-agency approach to dealing with border protection and Australia's sovereignty.

"We won't muck about in securing Australia's borders and protecting the economic interests of the Australian people" said Dr Nelson.

The Minister for Justice and Customs, Senator Chris Ellison said the significant increase in funding was further evidence of the Howard Government's commitment to border security.

"These initiatives send a clear signal to those people who might consider violating Australia's border integrity. We are investing unprecedented resources to ensure people smugglers, illegal fishermen, drug traffickers and other transnational criminals are detected, detained and prosecuted," Senator Ellison said.

Defence will also continue its current commitment to the Civil Maritime Surveillance Programme led by Customs, mainly through Operation CRANBERRY, to detect, intercept and deter potential illegal activities in coastal and off-shore regions. This includes a commitment of up to 1,800 patrol boat days, and 250 P-3C flying hours.

The multi-tasking nature of Operations RELEX II and CRANBERRY provide Defence with opportunities to employ innovative surveillance and response techniques. This will further enhance our contribution to civil agencies involved in maritime security activities and ensure that Defence assets are effectively used in the fight against illegal foreign fishing.

Media contacts:
Nigel Blunden (Dr Nelson) 02 6277 7800 0407 632 931

Duncan Bremner (Senator Ellison) 02 6277 7260 0409 003 084