Nothing shows a Coalition government in trouble more than playing the national security card, but even Tony Abbott wouldn’t go this far.
Malcolm Turnbull is “planning a major shake-up in counter-terrorism and domestic security.”
“Mr Turnbull has held high-level talks with cabinet colleagues about a new department and ministry to form a co-ordinated counter-terrorism effort. It would be similar to the Home Office in the UK and Homeland Security in the US. It would bring together the AFP, ASIO and Australian Border Force into one agency, where they could better engage, communicate and share information to tackle terror threats.”
Hang on. I’ve heard this song before.
In September 2014, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop pushed back strongly against the idea.
“If there were such a proposal, it would have to demonstrate any current failures in co-operation between the intelligence agencies, federal and state police and Defence and I am not aware of any such failures,” Ms Bishop said.
Michael Wesley — professor of national security at the ANU and formerly assistant director-general for transnational issues at the Office of National Assessments with responsibility for intelligence co-ordination — argued that following the lead of the “$38 billion bureaucratic monster” in the US would be a “bad idea”.
Professor Wesley said there seemed to be growing momentum to build on the success of Operation Sovereign Borders and create a single security portfolio, bringing together Customs and Border Protection, law enforcement, security intelligence, and disaster management under the direction of one minister.
“This is an extremely bad idea, and is likely to decrease Australia’s security readiness,” he wrote.
“When the US set up the DHS, there was clear evidence that American security, intelligence and policing agencies were not working together. Nothing could be further from the truth in Australia today.”
In October 2014 we were told this plan had been scuttled.
“A move within the Abbott cabinet to establish a homeland security super-ministry drawing together several major departments and functions looks to have been scuttled because senior figures viewed it as an attempt by backers of Immigration Minister Scott Morrison to elevate him to future leader status.
The entire issue is tied up with the timing of a reshuffle that will eventually be necessary one way or the other because of the temporary and possibly permanent vacancy created by the absence of Assistant Treasurer Arthur Sinodinos.”
What a difference a couple of years make.
Tony Abbott said there was no need for Australia to adopt a US-style homeland security super-ministry because he had ultimate responsibility for national security. He saw this as an empire building attempt by an ambitious opponent which he quickly quashed.
Will Brandis head to London to replace Downer? Will Ley say buy buy? Will we have a reshuffle?
As Abbott wanders the world giving advice to all and sundry, we can only speculate on who may be Turnbull’s hog.
