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304 AUSTRALIAN MARITIME ISSUES 2006: SPC-A ANNUAL
ensure the safety and security of all ships, including offshore installations and port
facilities. Vice Admiral Chris Ritchie, AO, RAN (Rtd), said:
Control of the sea is not only axiomatic to the protection of trade but for
the projection of power from the sea. 4
We can ill-afford for our security to be threatened by terrorists, or for that matter pirates
and other would-be radical religious fanatics, power hungry zealots or self-centred
deranged martyrs. Based on the vastness of our oceans and potential littoral hiding
places for terrorists, locating, prosecuting or terminating the threat of terrorists will
be an ongoing battle.
Our maritime forces and other members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF), as well
as Australian Federal Police (AFP), Customs and Coastwatch, must have the personnel
and be well-equipped with the latest weapons, technology, hardware and software to
combat the threat of terrorism and other asymmetric threats.
Command and control (C2) will play a vital role in responding to the threat of terrorism,
and the government should ensure that the ADF and other relevant security and
protection forces such as the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO),
Defence Intelligence Organisation (DIO) and Office of National Assessment (ONA),
have the personnel and resources at their disposal to combat, neutralise and respond
to the threat of terrorism and other asymmetric threats.
It is impossible to provide complete homeland security or border protection to this
island nation, however, ongoing vigilance, reviewing and implementing anti-terrorist
procedures and protocols including training and joint exercises will, in the long run,
deter terrorist attacks and minimise damage.
Background
Although the term ‘terrorist’ dates from the late 18th century, terrorism
has been used for thousands of years. 5
By the same token, terrorism on the high seas or other asymmetric threats, such as
piracy, have been occuring in oceans around the world since the days of the Vikings.
More recently, however, and closer to home, was the sinking of the Rainbow Warrior
(Hobson’s Bay Auckland Harbour, 10 July 1985) — a one-man operation under the
cover of darkness in an inflatable zodiac dinghy in stealth mode.
We should not forget the Achille Lauro hijacking (Mediterranean Sea, October 1985),
where an American citizen in a wheelchair was executed.