Executive summary
In this report, the committee considers
the key security challenges facing Pacific island states. It identifies the way
the region's physical and geographical characteristics combine with limited
human and technological capacity to reduce the ability of states to undertake
day-to-day policing and respond effectively to large scale breakdowns in law
and order. The committee finds that there are many root causes of
conflict—unemployment, inter-ethnic tension, land tenure, access to weapons,
gender equality and political instability—and that these often interact to
bring about rapid deteriorations in law and order. It also identifies how overstretched
justice systems are constrained in their ability to prosecute and deter
criminal activity.
In the second part of the report, the committee identifies
external threats to Pacific security ranging from illegal fishing to forms of
transnational crime. The committee finds that just as some states struggle to
deal with law and order at a community level, they also find it difficult to
respond to complex forms of transnational crime. Pacific island states do not
have the capacity to police their vast oceanic borders effectively nor do they
have the sophisticated tracking and surveillance capabilities required to
address transnational criminal activity.
Finally, the committee examines the security implications of
climate change and the effect of natural disasters on the region and finds
that, while extremely vulnerable, Pacific states have limited capacity to
respond to such threats.
Australia
is actively supporting Pacific island states to meet these challenges through
an extensive range of security-focused assistance programs. Australia seeks to
boost the capacity of these states to enhance policing and respond to breakdowns
in law and order through the Pacific Police Development Program (Australian
Federal Police) and the Defence Cooperation Program (Department of Defence). It
is also engaged in programs that build legislative capacity through work
undertaken by the Attorney-General's Department. The Australian Transaction
Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) and the Australian Customs and Border
Protection Service also assist in preventing crime in the region. Australia has
also sought to improve its capacity to respond to crises in the region through
two important recent initiatives: the Asia Pacific Civil–Military Centre
of Excellence and the Deployable Civilian Capacity.
In spite of the assistance provided by Australia, many
Pacific island states still struggle to deal adequately with these domestic and
external threats to their security. The committee has therefore made a series
of recommendations which focus on how Australia could enhance its security-related
assistance through: coordinating its security-related initiatives; working
with bilateral partners; and complementing the work of regional organisations
and international donors.
Recommendation 1 paragraph 3.30
Given the success the Department of Defence has had
in improving weapons security in the Pacific, the committee recommends the
Australian Government continue to assist Pacific island countries secure their
armouries and munition stores.
Recommendation 2 paragraph 4.40
The committee recommends that the joint training,
education and pre-development exercises that are currently used to prepare
officers for RAMSI become permanently incorporated into the AFP's Pacific
Police Development Program.
Recommendation 3 paragraph 6.40
The committee notes that the Defence White Paper
2009 indicates that Australian government departments are developing a
framework for enhancing regional maritime security. The committee sees
potential for other donors to make a valuable contribution in this area. It
therefore recommends that, in developing this framework, these departments
consider the advantages of elevating the Pacific Boat Patrol Program into a
regional initiative, supported by the Pacific Islands Forum and other donors.
Recommendation 4 paragraph 6.54
The committee has noted the limited maritime
surveillance capability of Pacific island states. It therefore recommends that
the Australian Government give specific attention to the way the region could
improve information sharing and develop a 'supra-national' enforcement
capability through, for example, the proposal for a Regional Maritime
Coordination Centre. In so doing, the committee suggests that the government
give particular attention to the ability of states to maintain and contribute
to such a facility, as well as the importance of avoiding duplication in
Australia's security assistance initiatives.
Recommendation 5 paragraph 7.18
The committee repeats its recommendation from Volume
I (recommendation 14) that the Australian Government provide for longer-term
funding for projects that are to span a number of years, as distinct from
year-to-year funding approvals. This would provide greater certainty for
AUSTRAC projects in the region.
Recommendation 6 paragraph 7.27
The committee recommends that the relevant
Australian government agencies (Attorney-General's, AUSTRAC and AFP)
investigate ways to eliminate overlap and duplication in delivering their
responses to combat transnational crime. In particular, the committee
recommends that the Australian Government examine the possibility of
integrating existing initiatives to deal with transnational crime, such as the
Financial Intelligence Units and Transnational Crime Units.
Recommendation 7 paragraph 8.21
The committee recommends that the Australian
Government, through the Asia Pacific Civil–Military Centre of Excellence and
the Deployable Civilian Capacity (DCC) give priority to assisting Pacific
island states develop their emergency response capacity. Experts from the
Centre of Excellence, and attached to the DCC, could raise awareness of tsunami
and cyclone behaviour, assist develop emergency response plans and work with
Pacific Islanders to develop more resilient critical infrastructure.
Recommendation 8 paragraph 8.22
The committee recommends that as the Asia Pacific
Civil–Military Centre for Excellence and the Deployable Civilian Capacity (DCC)
develop, the Australian Government take steps to ensure that they operate as an
integrated and coordinated whole-of-government and civilian response to
conflict and disaster management.
Recommendation 9 paragraph 8.52
The committee reiterates the
recommendation made in Volume I (recommendation 3), that the Australian
Government ensure that environmental matters including climate change be
integrated more effectively throughout its aid program to the Pacific.
Recommendation 10 paragraph 9.7
The committee recommends that in developing its
Pacific Partnerships for Development and Partnerships for Security, the
Australian Government ensure that the link between development and security is
strong. Moreover, it recommends that close attention be given to developing
Partnerships for Security which:
-
enhance the level of cooperation, collaboration, coordination and
interoperability between Australia's various security-related initiatives;
- work with bilateral partners to develop security assistance that
is appropriate to Pacific nations' level of development and commensurate with
their technical and material capacity; and
- complement the work of regional organisations and become
instrumental in forging much closer cooperation and coordination with other
donors to the region.
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