OPINION: Improved security needed to protect key assets
by Graeme Mickelberg
The actions of well organised protest groups have exposed major gaps in security at some of Australia's energy installations. By Graeme Mickelberg
In recent months, issue motivated groups have turned their attention on coal fired power stations in Victoria and New South Wales.
At the Loy Yang power station in Victoria, protesters entered the station and chained themselves to a coal conveyor. Following that incident, protesters concerned about the impact of emissions on the environment targeted a power station at Munmorah near Wyong and found their way onto the roof of the power station.
In both of these incidents, protesters gained access to infrastructure that should have been protected by robust security. Although the costs to the businesses which owned the power stations are not known, both incidents interrupted the continuity of operations and attracted national media coverage.
Such incidents must also be of concern to Federal and State governments which have been at pains to emphasise the need for owners and operators to implement sufficient security to protect power stations from security threats.
Other incidents involving issue motivated protest action have occurred previously in Australia. Last year protesters accessed the Port of Newcastle to paint signs on the side of a coal ship to coincide with the lead-up to the APEC Leaders’ Forum meeting in Sydney. And in 2003, animal rights activists accessed facilities at the port of Portland in Victoria and contaminated sheep feed causing delays to the export of 70,000 sheep to the Middle East.
Most issue motivated groups are generally peaceful in their approach. However, the depth of belief in their cause may in some cases be sufficient justification to move from relatively benign strategies to measures intended to raise the threshold of their actions and increase pressure on businesses, organisations and governments.
Get their message across
The actions of issue motivated groups involved as part of the anti-whaling lobby, which have resulted in direct action against whaling vessels, are a demonstration of how far protesters are prepared to go to get their message across. Similarly, as the momentum of the global warming debate has increased, the approach adopted by issue motivated groups appears to be changing. Some groups are taking direct action such as the unauthorised entry into power stations to access critical areas of station operations.
It is a mistake to dismiss issue motivated groups as a disorganised rabble. Increasingly, many of these groups are well organised and supported by substantial logistics, including transport and media management arrangements.
In some situations, issue motivated groups that share common beliefs are prepared to form coalitions with others to protest their views. This occurred during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in 2001/02, the G20 meeting and APEC in 2006, where protesters joined forces to protest trade, environmental, social and other issues.
Another example is the Peace Convergence, a coalition of groups formed to protest against a range of issues, including Australia’s defence relationship with the US. This group was well organised, including the provision of a participant’s handbook with information for protesters.
The risks associated with issue motivated groups who access businesses, particularly complex infrastructure such as power stations, mine sites and port facilities, include risks to the safety of people, including employees, visitors and protesters, with the potential for litigation, adverse media and industrial action.
The continuity of business operations is also likely to affected, resulting in interruptions to supply with consequent implications for customers. During the recent protest action at Loy Yang power station, which provides 30 per cent of Victoria’s power, output had to be halved as a result of measures required to facilitate the removal of protesters who had chained themselves to a coal conveyor.
Measures to protect businesses from risks
Understanding the approach taken by issue motivated groups is a necessary part of developing measures to protect businesses from risks that may arise when targeted by protesters who collect information about businesses to inform protest planning. This may involve site visits where they can photograph the site and familiarise themselves with approaches to the site and the routine in respect of access control. Websites and business publications are also a source of planning information for protesters.
Access to such information is critical to the development of protesters’ plans, the identification of special equipment and the conduct of preparations leading up to protest action.
Physical security, including security fencing, CCTV, alarms, periodic security patrols and staff security awareness are fundamental to providing the capability to deter, deny, detect and respond to unauthorised incursions. Businesses should also ensure they have addressed issue motivated groups as a security risk in security plans.
Additionally, businesses should, as part of their corporate crisis management planning, ensure they have prepared media messages in readiness as part of any response to protest action. Businesses should also ensure they monitor local and national media to identify news which may indicate the presence and intentions of protest groups. An additional source of information may be accessed from the Police which have security intelligence sources concerning issue motivated groups.
As businesses and organisations increasingly seek to engage with the community they must be attuned to the implications of what they do and the possibility of attention from issue motivated groups who may have national and international connections. The risks associated with protesters have the potential to seriously affect the bottom line of businesses and merit serious attention as part of risk management planning.
First published in ASM February 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.