Indian Naval Expansion Maritime - Navy League of Australia

Observations
COASTWATCH - NO MORE INQUIRIES PLEASE
Although most of its operations take place out of the
public's sight and in some of Australia's most remote
regions, few organisations have received such close
scrutiny and media attention in recent years as Coastwatch.
Policing the country's main points of entry -
established ports and airports - to prevent the entry of
unwanted people, narcotics, illegal goods etc. has for long
been established practice, officers of the Customs
Department being the most visible sign of authority.
The new Customs service Bay class patrol boat. BOTANY BAY
(Customs).
The late nineteen-sixties appears to mark the time when
the first serious steps were taken to extend surveillance
operations, principally to detect trespassers in the then
newly proclaimed 12 nautical mile fishing zone.
Following a request by the Department of Primary
Industry. RAN patrol boats and RAAF aircraft were made
available for duty in northern waters.
By Geoffrey Evans
Over time, increased foreign fishing activities, an
upsurge in attempts to enter the country illegally using a
variety of small craft ("the boat people") in 1973.
declaration of a greatly expanded (2(X) nm) Australian
Fisheries Zone (AFZ) in 1979 and of an Exclusive
Economic Zone (EEZ) in 1994. led to greatly increased
pressure on Nurveillance/interception resources.
Despite numerous inquiries and reviews - the writer is
aware of at least eight - some open to public participation,
others of an inter-departmental nature, governments
generally were slow to act on recommendations made by
their advisers; this often resulted in unfair criticism of
hard-pressed operators, particularly when unannounced
visitors suddenly arrived in the more heavily populated
areas of the country.
Delays were probably inevitable given the large
number of government authorities involved: Apart from
Primary Industry and the Fishing Services. Customs and
Defence, organisations such as the Australian Federal
Police, ihe Quarantine Inspection Service. Transport
and Communications. Immigration. Health. Foreign
Affairs. Environment and of course the States and
Territories, all had an interest in guarding Australia's
sovereignty.*
Two important issues discussed at the major inquiries
related to departmental (and consequently, to ministerial)
responsibility for surveillance activities, and the
apportionment of costs - aircraft and ships together with
their crews do not come cheaply.
In 1975 the Department of Transport, which had
various maritime responsibilities, became the formal coordinator
of surveillance/interception operations, an
arrangement that continued until 1984 when, following a
revue carried out by Mr Kim Beasley in his capacity as
Minister assisting the Minister of Defence, the Australian
Federal Police became the co-ordinator. The question of
costs continued to be a vexations issue.
A comprehensive report in 1988 by Mr. Hugh Hudson
resulted in further changes. As well as dealing with the
financial aspects Hudson recommended the establishment
of a semi-independent Agency with an Executive Director
to direct, co-ordinate and manage civil coastal and offshore
surveillance operations, the Agency to be serviced by the
Department of Transport. An Advisory Committee
comprised of representatives of the various authorities
involved was also to be formed with the Agency Director
as Chairman. This was a significant recommendation.
While the government of the day accepted a number of
the Hudson recommendations it declined to act on the
Agency proposal: the co-ordinating task was in fact passed
to the Customs Department in 1988: Subsequently all the
Hudson recommendations were implemented, even the
important Agency proposal in all but name.
The present government has gone a stage further and in
1999 after further reviews and inquiries appointed an
experienced senior naval officer. Rear Admiral Russell
Shalders. as Director-General of Coastwatch. seconding
the officer to the Customs Department for the purpose.
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