Government launches Single Security Vetting agency
by Chris Cubbage - Online Editor
Minister for Defence, Stephen Smith, Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, and Minister for Finance and Deregulation, Senator Penny Wong today announced the launch of the Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA) - a single, centralised agency for Commonwealth security checks.
The AGSVA, managed by the Department of Defence, is expected to improve security vetting for the Commonwealth by providing public servants and government contractors with a single security clearance recognised across government. These new arrangements will remove unnecessary regulation, Ministers say, and are expected to deliver cost savings of at least $5.3 million per year.
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland said the AGSVA’s centralised approach and use of IT innovation removes inconsistencies and duplication associated with the current system.
“Before the AGSVA, more than 100 agencies replicated the processes of security vetting while more than 50 agencies held separate contracts with vetting service providers,” Mr McClelland said.
“The introduction of a single vetting agency removes this inefficient duplication.”
Mr McClelland said the AGSVA will be supported by a new Personnel Security Protocol which sets out the practices and procedures that all Government agencies should follow to achieve effective personnel security and ongoing management of security clearances.
The protocol adopts a more streamlined and practical approach that focuses on:
- minimising intrusion into employee privacy where possible by
- aligning background checking to personnel security vulnerabilities
- ensuring cross-recognition of security clearances by all Australian Government agencies
- enabling agencies to undertake additional character checks identified in their risk assessments; and
- closer alignment of the clearance review process with our international partners.
When fully up and running, the AGSVA will have a customer base of around 300 Government Agencies and expects to process around 48,000 clearance actions per annum.
What do you think? Will this improve security clearance process? YOUR COMMENTS ARE WELCOME.