An Integrated Approach to Security
by Graeme Mickelberg
Transport and logistics businesses are integral to the continuity of Australia’s export and import trade and the day-to-day operation of the domestic economy. As Graeme Mickelberg reports, the security of these businesses is of paramount importance to government and industry.
Aviation, maritime and land transport play a critical role in the movement of raw materials and manufactured goods nationally and regionally. The security of transport and logistics businesses and the complex infrastructure needed to facilitate their operations has been the focus of Federal and State governments in Australia. That focus is directly related to acts of terrorism that have occurred in recent years commencing with the attacks in the United States.
The supply chains within which transport and logistics businesses operate extend across State borders and internationally to Australia’s export and import partners. The effectiveness and efficiency of supply chains depends on a diverse range of stakeholders that operate in land, maritime and aviation environments. Businesses that provide transport and logistics services operate in a highly regulated environment with controls over a wide range of their operations. Although security has for many years been a focus for the aviation industry responding to International Civil Aviation Organisation security regulations, international terrorism has resulted in security legislation being enacted by other organisations, including the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). This legislation has had a substantial affect on the operations of ports. Within Australia the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government has also enacted legislation regulating security requirements of airports, ports and off-shore platforms such as oil rigs. However, although this legislation has enhanced security the approach taken lacks integration which, given the number and diversity of transport and logistics operators, has the potential to result in gaps that can be exploited which may leave transport and logistics operators exposed to security threats.
Security threats confronting transport and logistics businesses include organised criminals within Australia and trans-national criminals involved in the movement and distribution of illicit drugs and the smuggling of weapons, people and other commodities. Inevitably criminals have adopted a supply-chain approach to their operations and some cases organised crime gangs are operating legitimate transport and logistics businesses. Issue-motivated groups have also recognised the importance of transport and logistics businesses and the infrastructure that supports such businesses and have targeted them for protest action with the objective of giving national and international profile to their causes. The recent actions of anti-whaling activists who were successful in interdicting the Japanese whaling fleet and the protest actions of other animal-rights activists who have targeted ports involved in the export of live sheep, demonstrate the impact that can be achieved by breaching the security of such businesses. Terrorism may well be an unlikely threat; however the consequences of an attack, such as that experienced in Spain, have the potential to paralyse transport and logistics operations with catastrophic impacts for all areas of the Australian economy and community.
A compounding factor in meeting the challenges of assuring security for transport and logistics businesses is the large number of sub-contractors involved. Inevitably the involvement of contractors and the quality of their security measures has the potential to expose other businesses to security risks. The most effective strategy to avoid such a situation is an integrated approach by Regulators and major industry stakeholders with the objective of providing unambiguous security compliance standards implemented in the context of transport and logistics supply chains.
First published in ASM June 2008 edition.
About the author: Graeme Mickelberg is a security risk consultant. His business, Hydra Enterprises Pty Ltd, has national and international clients in the private and public sectors. Graeme can be contacted by email at hydraenterprises@telstra.com or on 0407 113 909.