ADELIADE DEFENCE RADAR CENTRE ANNOUNCED

A new Centre of Expertise established by the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) is expected to boost the nation's capability in phased array and microwave radar systems, a niche technology with strategic importance to Australia's defence.

DSTO and the University of Adelaide signed an agreement last week to establish the centre within the University's School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering.

It will be known as the Centre of Expertise in Phased Array and Microwave Radar Systems (CEPAMR).

Chief Defence Scientist Dr Roger Lough said the Centre of Expertise concept was DSTO's strategic engagement initiative with Australia's science and technology community.

"This will be a unique national capability at the forefront of advanced radar, telecommunications, navigation and electronic warfare applications," Dr. Lough said. "It is about building a niche capability to support Defence and national security."

The agreement establishing the new centre was signed by DSTO's Deputy Chief Defence Scientist (Systems) Dr (D.) Nanda Nandagopal and the University's Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research) Prof. Neville Marsh.

Dr Nandagopal said the centre would develop excellence in research and teaching in phased array and microwave radar systems.

"The new centre will underpin efforts by DSTO and Australian industry to tackle practical engineering problems associated with the design, development and integration of the next generation phased array systems," he said.

Research outputs from the centre are expected to have significant long term benefits for defence applications such as:

* capability development of the phased array radar on airborne platforms as well as radars proposed for future naval platforms,
* emerging Ballistic Missile Defence surveillance and tracking requirements, and
* a potential indigenous air defence radar system for Army applications.

DSTO scientist Dr Bevan Bates will be seconded to the University as Director of the new centre.

This is the second Centre of Expertise between DSTO and the University. The two organisations already collaborate under a Centre of Expertise in Photonics.

It is expected that the new centre will support growing national requirements for radio frequency engineers within DSTO, industry and the civilian commercial sector.

Source : Australian Department of Defence

SON OF STAR WARS II: NEOCONS DOWN UNDER

"It’s not Star Wars. It’s basically the capability to defeat ballistic missiles whilst they are in the air after launch, during cruise or as they reenter the atmosphere and that defensive capability has developed enormously in the last few years. A year or so ago it was thought to be decades away. Now the United States will in fact deploy the first part of its defence shield next year. So it’s a rapidly advancing technology."

"The need in a very unpredictable world is to be able to defend ourselves, whether it’s troops on the ground or whether it’s strategic assets and what we have is the opportunity to get into this massive project at an early stage, to be able to invest in it, to learn what capabilities might be suitable for us in the future and basically to have that option, the option to be able to develop that form of defence in the future."

"We think that in the science and technology area we will make a contribution from the start. The Americans have been out here looking at our capabilities. They have been most impressed with JORN, for example, and new forms of radar and sensors that are being developed here north of Adelaide. And they will have the opportunity to promote and invest in their science through this project. This is a massive project, a huge public expenditure by the United States and it gives us the opportunity to get into the project and to play our part and to get a benefit in terms of a more secure Australia."

"We will choose the projects within the massive program that we want to invest in and obviously we will do that to the background of our successes to date, in terms of radars and sensors and the like. And we will get benefit back from that investment in terms of better capability for Australia."

"We have said the Air Warfare System will basically be a US design but the US designers are interested in Australian companies contributing complementary parts of the system. That again will be an opportunity that our companies have never had before at that level of sophistication."

Robert Hill December 5 2003

Now let's take the Tardis to December 6 2005

[extract from the Adelaide Advertiser]

Outlining other strengths of the SA defence industry, Senator Hill said the Jindalee Operational Radar Network (JORN) - consisting of two over-the-horizon radars - might be used as part of Australia's contribution to the U.S.'s so-called Star Wars missile shield.

The two over-the-horizon radars are jointly operated from the JORN Coordination Centre at RAAF Base Edinburgh by the No. 1 Radar Surveillance Unit.

Trials of the JORN last year for missile defence proved it was successful in detecting a target.

This involved detecting ballistic missiles during the "early boost phase", allowing earlier interception.

Two days later Minister Hill revealed, while announcing the placement of the AEGIS order, that unless Australia had taken this action Lockheed-Martin would have need to shut down its AEGIS production line, telling The Advertiser that

"Placing the order . . . allows the U.S. to continue manufacturing without halting its production line, bringing about greater efficiency and achieving considerable savings," he said. "The purchase will also maximise opportunity for Australian industry to provide sub-systems such as communications, electronic warfare, sonar, electro-optical sensors and other equipment."

It's good to know that, even though we don't have a final design for the ships yet, we know what we'll shoot from them.

Last Thursday the Pentagon extolled the success of it's Southern Hemispheric Missile Shield trial.

[extract from The Advertiser]

The latest test in the Pacific was designed chiefly to evaluate the performance of the interceptor missile's rocket motor system and Raytheon Co-built "exoatmospheric kill vehicle", the bit designed to smash into the target warhead and pulverise it in space, MDA said.

It also successfully tested, among other things, silo support equipment, the agency said.

Last February, a ground support arm in the silo malfunctioned because of hinge corrosion caused by what MDA later said had been "salt air fog" that entered the underground silo.

Boeing said in a statement that the interceptor will be flown against a live target in subsequent tests.

The flight test yesterday validated the system's ability to track, acquire and provide the interceptor with the data for a "hit-to-kill" intercept, Chicago-based Boeing said.

All told, the United States is spending roughly $US9 billion ($11.95 billion) a year to develop a layered missile shield, including components based at sea and in space. The shield is designed to knock out the type of ocean-leaping missile that could be tipped with a nuclear, chemical or germ warhead.

In the dramatic public competition for the winning of the AWD contract... two state governments toe-to-toe in the media, complete with Adelaide-base journo-terrorists invading Melbourne to present the case for South Australia. The Advertiser journalists were lead in the charge by Craig Bildstien, former Liberal Member for Mildura and ex press-secretary for Chris Gallus, the Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs.

I had the privelege of hearing South Australian Premier Mike Rann announcing the AWD cpmtract being awarded to Adelaide, telling everyone how when his office received the news "We all shook hands and said "mission accomplished' ". The implication to the South Australian public was that it was the State's Labour Government that had won the deal. Hill didn't have much to say at the time.

Nowadays the relationship is a little more tense. When Senator Hill announced on Thursday that Adelaide was to receive a new 1,200 battallion. Deputy Premier Foley was caught unawares, telling Adelaide ABC's Matthew Abraham and David Bevin that the announcement, though known to be due sometime in the future (nice to know somebody in the Premier's Department has discoverd the internet) was not expected at that time.

As South Australia gears up for an election next March, the job creations Rann's Defence State are going to be loudly proclaimed as a vote-getter. The question is exactly how much of the acquisition of defence contracts is directly attributable to the Federal Liberal Government, the State Labor Government, and the State's former Liberal Government.

It obvious looking at Hill's statements, at a time when Rann had only been in office for six months, that planning for our involvement in the AEGIS program had been developing for much longer than that. In fact, it's been years since the US government requested three ships to participate in the missile shield program.

Six months ago I wrote an open letter to Victorian Premier Steve Bracks, saying that,

I share your sense of having participated in a foregone conclusion. Victoria tried hard to win the warships, but as long as the plans created by the Bush Administration and relayed by multinational defence and energy corporations to and through the Australian Federal Government continue on a predetermined implementation schedule, the whims of any State's comparitively tiny political muscle will only be considered in the form of providing crumbs and scraps left over from the main meal.

Nothing that's happened since then has changed my mind. The one thing I was missing is that if i'm right, a key issue in the next South Australian election consists of an untrustworthy amount of grandstanding by an actor with a very small part.

As long as the election result doesn't affect US Foreign Policy, the Bush Regime wouldn't care who won. However, it's mystifying that the SA Liberal party, surely able to see what's going on, aren't opposing Rann's publicity campaign

The Anti-Convict Wins! David Hicks Gets U.K. Citezenship
Pardon the jubilation, but it's great to see huge cracks in the U.S. armour. The U.K. High Court has granted David Hicks to become a U.K. citizen. As an Australian he's a prisoner of the U.S. Army, but as a Brit he will be allowed to leave for the same reason that his "compatriots" were. His new country doesn't recognize the jurisdiction of the US DoD. Australia, however, is happy to comply
It's already been touted in the media that the Blair Goververnment will appeal the verdict.

It's a pity that the people of my home city have been too gutless to stick up for him so far. No doubt they'll climb on the bandwagon now that he might be a winner. I hope they do. 20 million people are nothing to rest of the world unless they say the one thing at the same time. Whatever it takes is fine. A voice of Australian dissent to Hick's treatment is what the illegally imprisoned South Australian deserved years ago.. let him have it now

AUSTRALIAN GOVT PASSES TOUGH NEW TERROR LAWS

Australia's parliament passed a tough new anti-terrorism package on Tuesday amid fears the laws will strip citizens of their civil rights and erode free speech.

The legislation, initiated after the July 7 London bombings, allow police to hold suspects without charge for seven days, keep tabs on them with electronic tracking devices and make support for insurgents in countries such as Iraq punishable by up to seven years in jail.

Prime Minister John Howard's conservative government used its one-seat majority in the upper house Senate -- the most powerful government mandate held in nearly 25 years -- to cut short debate and push through the package on Tuesday.

"These are powers and measures which are needed in the armoury for the fight against terrorism," Justice Minister Chris Ellison told the Senate.

The laws allow for the first time terror suspects to be detained without charge for up to 14 days as well as controls on their movement and communication for up to 12 months.

They also update sedition laws, give police tougher stop, search and seizure powers and allow greater use of security cameras.

Government amendments included giving more time for businesses to respond to anti-terror financing checks, enabling courts to consider a summary of grounds when deciding whether to issue the interim control order and greater access to lawyers for those facing preventative detention


While the Labor party broadly supported the package, Labor and minor opposition parties slammed Howard for ignoring recommendations from a Senate review committee that new sedition laws be dropped and a sunset clause cut from 10 years to five.

"Now John Howard has complete control in the Senate there is no check on his cynicism, there is no check on his arrogance -- hard won and much prized civil liberties will be the price," Labour Senator John Faulkner told the Senate.

The process by which the Government rammed the anti-terrorism legislation through the Senate today was practically 'seditious', according to the Australian Democrats' Senator For South Australia.

"The Government gagged and guillotined this debate, to the detriment of free speech and democracy," Democrats' Attorney-Generals Spokesperson Senator Natasha Stott Despoja said.

"This was arguably the most significant piece of legislation the Senate has dealt with in the last decade. Yet, the Government stopped Senators from speaking to the Bill and refused to allow debate on the majority of the proposed amendments.

"The Democrat amendments to the Bill were serious and constructive. We attempted to insert safeguards into the legislation to protect fundamental legal principles such as freedom of speech; the right not to be detained without charge; and, the protection of legal professional privilege.

"We also moved to incorporate the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights into the Bill; protect the rights of children; restrict the power to authorise orders to appropriate courts; allow detainees access to full judicial review; remove sedition from the Bill; and, decrease the sunset clause to three years.

"These amendments deserved serious debate however, many were not even able to be discussed in the three and a half hours allocated for the committee stage of the Bill.

"In an affront to the role of the Senate, the Government showed no willingness to seriously consider the many amendments circulated by the Democrats and other opposition parties.

"Labor Senators sold out on sedition. They supported the legislation despite all their protestations, despite the sedition provisions remaining in the Bill, and despite none of their other amendments passing the Senate today.

"This is a shameful and sad day for democracy," Senator Stott Despoja said.

On the November 30 South Australia passed it's own new terror laws giving police greater power to search people, cars and buildings and prevent entry or exit from an area which is subject to a terrorist threat or attack. They will be subject to a review after two and five years and will expire in 10 years through a sunset clause.

Reuters, The Advertiser

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA- U.S. MISSILE SHIELD RADAR BASE

The Federal Minister of Defence, Robert Hill announced yesterday that trials that would enable Adelaide to play a key role in the U.S. MIssile Shield were successful.

Mr Hill said that the trials "might" allow Adelaide to participate.

The news follows announcements earlier this year that Adelaide to become the location of the construction of three warships equipped to participate in the "Star Wars" shield.

The trials focused on detection of missiles at early stages of flight, and showed the Adelaide-based JORN (Jindalee Over-horizon Radar Network) would aid early interception of incoming missiles

GERARD RB BOARD APPOINTMENT APPROVED BY ALL CABINET: PRIME MINISTER

According to Prime Minister Howard, when Treasurer Costello suggested appointing Adelaide magnate Robert Gerard to the Reserve Bank board, the P.M. and the Cabinet thought it was a great idea.

"I thought, on the face of it, thatRobert Gerard was a great appointment" the PM told ABC-TV's Insiders program yesterday. "He as the responsible minister, put the proposal forward and I can say it was unanimously endorsed by the cabinet and, as you are all aware, the cabinet includes four senior ministers from South Australia."

Mr Gerard, one of 70 guests selected to attend PM Howard's barbeque for US President Bush in 2003, was named Australian Entrepreneur of the Year in 2004.
The Judges of the award state d that Mr Gerard was " such an enthusisiast, he drags people along with him." Four weeks, on New Years Eve, Mr Gerard dragged 200 first-class guests on the first private party on the Halliburton-constructed Adelaide-Darwin Railway on New Years Eve. Mr Gerard owns land at the junction of the Adelaide-Port Adelaide and Adelaide-Darwin railway lines.

Mr Gerard may now have succeded in dragging along Treasurer Peter Costello in his departure from public prominence. As Gerard resigned from his Reserve Bank board position last Friday Costello was battling to retain his political integrity as Federal Opposition members demanded the Treasurer's resignation for alleged negligence. The Opposition claims that Costello was aware that Gerard's repayment of $75 million to the Australian Tax office for alleged fraud was made three months after his appointment to the board of the Reserve Bank

ADELAIDE DEFENCE, RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL NETWORK BEGINS

Adelaide, the Australian home of Star Wars, Halliburton, Global Hawk and the Joint Strike Fighter Project, has begun building a global-standard data transfer system that will allow local activities to be co-ordinated internationally.

Today's Adelaide Advertiser announces the commencement and construction of a major fibreoptic network, connencting defence, science and educational facilities at speeds enabling synchronisation with global projects.

SABRENet will cut the time to transfer a terabyte of data to just 17 minutes, compared with about three months using business broadband.

A terabyte is 1 trillion bytes.

Until now such large datasets, saved to portable hard disks, have been transported by plane or taxi between research institutions here and overseas.

The new network will enable supercomputer real-time simulations, multi-screen, high-definition video conferencing, redundant storage and disaster recovery of massive amounts of data, and will allow South Australian researchers to participate in bandwidth-enabled experiments around the globe.

The project is the result of almost three years of collaboration between the University of Adelaide, the University of South Australia, Flinders University, the State Government and the Defence, Science and Technology Organisation.

It is not known whether the U.S. Surveillance base at Pine Gap will be connected to the network.

WAR COMES TO ADELAIDE

As Adelaide residents gathered to protest the visit of U.S. Defense Secretary Rumsfeld, Foreign Minister Downer stated that Australian troops would stay in Iraq as long as necessary, while Defence Minister Hill declared a unified US/Australian policy to activities in the Middle East.

"For as long as we have a useful job to do, in particular in helping to train up the Iraqi security forces, we'll do the job," Mr Downer told reporters.

Australia, a strong ally of the United States, has about 1,300 military personnel in and around Iraq, including forces training the Iraqi military and 450 troops providing security for Japanese engineers in southern Al Muthanna province. "When the Iraqi security forces can do the job, it will be time to leave."

Rumsfeld and Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick will hold annual defence and security talks with Downer and Australian Defence Minister Robert Hill in Adelaide on Friday.
About 500 anti-war protesters staged a rally on the steps of the South Australian state parliament in the city, unable to get near Rumsfeld's hotel, which has been fortified with concrete barriers and a four-metre high fence provided by Halliburton.

Defence Minister Hill said, while Australia was likely to end its programme to train Iraqi forces by mid-2006, it would probably extend the Al Muthanna security deployment if Japan decided to extend its humanitarian mission well into next year. "The popular view is they (Japan) are likely to stay for some time yet, and I think they would probably ask for Australian security to help them fulfil their mission," Hill told reporters. Hill said there was "significant demand" for Australian air transport, security detachments for diplomats in Baghdad, and an Australian navy ship in the Persian Gulf. He added they were likely to remain deployed for some time.

Mr Downer said the talks would also review counter-terrorism in Australia and Southeast Asia, unrest in southern Thailand and concerns about militant groups in the Philippines. The talks are also set to touch on developments with Australian Guantanamo Bay detainee David Hicks, whose military commission trial was due to start this week but has been further delayed by challenges to the U.S. Supreme Court. Hicks, from Adelaide, has been accused of being an al Qaeda fighter, but has pleaded not guilty to charges of aiding the enemy, attempted murder and conspiracy to commit war crimes.

Mr Hill also said today that the US and Australian views on Iraq are "identical"

Mr Downer has also dismissed a videotaped al Qaeda threat to himself and Prime Minister John Howard over Australia's Iraq policy "It's not uncommon in these things for particular references to be made to leaders" he said

Reuters, ABC, Xinhua, The Australian

RUMSFELD CREATES ADELAIDE 'HIGH TERROR' CHANCE, SOUTH AUSTRALIA REFUSED PARLIAMENT HOUSE PROTEST

A planned Adelaide protest against U.S. Secretary of Defence has been cancelled by South Australian Authorities, and those gathering at Parliament House without permission wil be "moved on" by police.

Protest spokesman Mr Mike Khizan said in a media release tonight that " “Donald Rumsfeld, a man whom many millions of people around the world see as an international war criminal is coming to Adelaide, and in the name of ‘protecting’ him, free speech is being denied and the right to dissent attacked.”

Mr. Khizam argued that “it would be a betrayal of our responsibility to defend civil liberties to simply swallow this decision. If Parliament steps are barricaded off, we will rally as close to the site as possible, on the King William Street end of the barricades.”

The media release by Rice Rumsfeld Reception Committee also emphasised the fact that many people had already been notified of the Thurday 4.30 pm protest. It also claimed that Adelaide talkback radio participants have been warned on at least two occassions that if they say anything that may incite protest they will be taken of air

.Police have declared a "high" terror likelihood, following media reports that protesters are co nverging on the South Australian capital from all over the country.

The Adelaide trip was announced several months ago by Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer, and was planned to coincide with a visit by U.S. Secretary of State Condileeza Rice. Downer subsequently revealed that Dr Rice had cancelled her trip because "Leftists" were planning to protest.

According to the Adelaide Advertiser, police are preparing for the possibility of up to 10,000 protesters, and have stated that they will have little tolerance for unwanted activity. A police spokesman said today that Adelaide residents should not go near the blockaded area unless they had specific reason to do so.

Mr Rumseld and the U.S. Deputy Secratary of State are meeting with Mr Downer and Australian Defence Minister Robert Hill fo an annual bi-national meeting of minsters known as Ausmin.

Mr Downer has previously stated that Adelaide was chosen as the location of the meeting "because I live there," and that he thought it would be nice to show off his home city.

Mr Rumsfeld is expected to dine on Thursday at the Stonyfell Winery Resaurant, situated next to a quarry at the face of the Adelaide Hills. Prostesters plan to gather at the location, about 14 minutes from city centre, and to be located along the roadside.

Adelaide has strong commercial and defence ties with the U..S. It is the primary location for construction of Australia's contribution to the U.S. Missile Shield, and is the closest major city to an extimated 40% of the world's known uranium reserves. The city is the global headquarters for the Infrastructure Division of K.B.R, the subidary of Halliburton heavily involved supporting U.S. soldiers in Iraq and in the reconstruction of that countries oilfields, as well holding a contract for global support of U.S. military activities.

South Australia is expected, according to its Premier, to host Australian participation in the Global Hawk project, in which Unmanned Air Vehicles for survellance and combat vehicles are being created.

There is also speculation that the region will be a prime player in the U.S. Joint Strike Fighter Project

DONALD DUCKS DOWN UNDER

U.S. Secretary Of Defense Donald Rumsfeld will be in Adelaide from November 16-18, it is believed.

Secretary of the Rumsfeld Rice Reception Commitee Ms Jeannie Lucas says that venues for the visit will include the Adelaide Convention Centre and Town Hall.

Ms Lucas says that the information comes from a number of sources.

Mr Rumsfeld will be attending the joint meeting of Australian and U.S. Ministers, Ausmin.

His visit was originally intended to coincide with that of U.S. Secretary Of State Condileeza Rice.

According to Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Downer, Ms Rice cancelled her November visit because "Leftists" in Adelaide were planning to protest.

The No-War Coalition of South Australia are hosting a rally on the steps of Parliament House on Thursday November 16 at 4.30 pm. Other events are planned.

THE XSTRATA FACTOR

As the Swiss resource raiders Xstrata attempted to "capture" the Woomera Mining Corp last year, much larger plans were being enacted.

After Canada's eighth largest company Noranda merged with it's major stakeholder Falconridge in May, one fifth of Falconridge, now, Canada's largest mining company
fell into the hands of Xstrata, whose chief executive Mick Davis described the move as having "allowed Xstrata to capture one of the most signifigant options in the mining industry."
also bragging that his company had begun "undertaking due diligence on Noranda and Falconridge last year"

If this is true, then Xstrata was simultaneously plotting the Noranda and WMC acquisitions. Both have now failed.
However, had both succeeded a Swiss corporation would have been in control of extremely signifigant national assets of Australia and Canada,

I would dare to suggest that an amazingly nepotistic level of corporate control of a
major resource had a high likelihood of occurring. Even Xstrata's "wooden spoon" is pretty good. Look at what happened:
[Canadian timeline from the Ottawa Citizen ]

1988: Noranda buys 19.9 per cent of Falconbridge.

- 2002: Noranda increases ownership to 58.4 per cent.

- 2004/5 Xstrata attempt hostile takeover of Woomera Mining Corporation. BHP Biliton's bid accepted

2004/5 Noranda considers takeover by Chinese company Minmetals. The merger doesn't proceed

- 2005: Noranda, Falconbridge amalgamate as Falconbridge Ltd. Brascan reduces ownership to 20 per cent In South Africa Falconbridge continues to refine WMC nickel and cobalt

- 2005: Xstrata buys 19.9-per-cent stake in Falconbridge from Brascan.

- 2005: Falconbridge and Inco Ltd. announce $12.5-billion friendly merger plan.

Former Bush Administration U.S. Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham said last week that 
"Congress is ... likely to move to open previously closed areas for drilling, including the Arctic" 

Given such a statement by such a person, it's now safe to assume that Antartica's mineral resources
are increasingly likely to  be considered for development when the wilderness treaty expires.

That one plan has so publically failed could mean that similar others are  privately "works in progess".
Had Xstrata succeeded in both its attempted coups, a large almagamation of the mineral assets of the 
two countries that hold most of the world's known uranium reserves would have been available
to the highest bidder, such as a wealthy consortium or country..

A potential near-miss in giving Australia's "inheritance" away should serve as a warning.

AUSTRALIAN MILITARY COMMUNICATION GLOBALISED

Defence Minister Hill today announced that global defence giant General Dynamics will co-ordinate creation of the Australian Defence Force's new communications system.



General Dynamics claims it " has leading market positions in mission-critical information systems and technologies; land and expeditionary combat systems, armaments and munitions; shipbuilding and marine systems; and business aviation. It is headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, and employs approximately 70,800 people worldwide

The company is to be assisted by the Adelaide-based international defence corporation Tenix (whose consultants have included former Defence Minister Peter Reith) with ADI, Tenix founders Transfield share ADI in a consortium half-owned by European communications group Thales. The two goups have previously proposed merging aspects of their businesses. Thales acts as recruitment centre for ADI.

It's possible to guess who will look after the subcontracting work, but that would be pure speculation


Here's Minister Hill's medoa release:

Preferred Tenderer FOR BATTLESPACE COMMUNICATIONS PROJECT

General Dynamics, in partnership with ADI and Tenix, has been selected as the Phase One Preferred Tenderer for the design, development and implementation of Defence’s future digital communications system, Defence Minister Robert Hill announced today.

Senator Hill said the Battlespace Communications Systems will increase the efficiency and capacity of the Army and land-based Air Force elements to rapidly share information on the battlefield.

Phase One is approved for $97 million, and will focus on the development of the overall systems design and architecture for future procurements of communications equipment for the Land Force. This will provide enhanced Voice and Data communications capabilities and enhanced technology upgrades to equip a digitised Joint Task Force.

"This project is a key component in the delivery of network centric warfare to the land environment," Senator Hill said.

"This project will deliver state of the art digital voice and data communication, including video and multimedia, as well as an upgrade plan to ensure that the ADF’s equipment remains at the forefront of technology.

"Equipment will span the majority of field deployable units in both the Army and Air Force and is likely to range from small hand held radios to larger vehicle mounted communications equipment."

Estimated at up to $800 Million, the project has been broken up into three phases that are currently programmed over the next 10 years. Under this project, equipment will be introduced into service from 2007/2008.

"The preferred Prime Systems Integrator, General Dynamics, has significant experience in the design and development of complex communications systems through previous work on similar projects with the Canadian and British Armies," Senator Hill said.

"General Dynamics’ involvement in this project will enable the ADF to leverage this experience to strengthen Australia’s systems integration and communications expertise and further develop this critical capability."

General Dynamics has established a new company, General Dynamics Systems Australia (GDSA), as part of this project and will progressively transfer management and engineering work from General Dynamics Canada to GDSA. This will generate new jobs and further enhance the specialised skills needed in Australia’s Electronic Systems sector.

As the Prime Systems Integrator, General Dynamics will embed employees from ADI and Tenix into their team to work on the project and support system definition and design, speciality engineering, life cycle cost modelling, and the interface of the new architecture with existing systems.

"ADI and Tenix involvement will increase in later stages of the project to include delivery of training and logistics support," Senator Hill said.

"This will result in opportunities for Australian industry including, small-to-medium enterprises, to participate in vehicle installations, supply of equipment and through life support activities."

ENDS

Other Australian defence companies with signifigant global activity include BAE Australia, Boeing Australia and KBR Australia.

$2.6 MILLION FISHERIES PATROL VESSEL

Surveillance of the state’s significant fisheries and the capability to respond to emergencies at sea will be boosted with the launch of a new $2.6 million fisheries patrol vessel.

Agriculture, Food and Fisheries Minister, Rory McEwen said the new vessel, the ‘Southern Ranger’ would be based at North Haven to enable rapid deployment into Gulf St Vincent and adjacent waters.

Speaking at the launch, Mr McEwen said ‘Southern Ranger’ would patrol all State and Commonwealth waters from the Western Australian to Victorian borders.

“The ‘Southern Ranger’ has a range of 800 nautical miles – three times the range of the current patrol vessel it will replace –has a faster cruising speed and will provide twice the sea coverage out to 200 nautical miles,” he said. “The operation of the offshore patrol vessel is an essential component of PIRSA Fisheries compliance operations aimed at ensuring the sustainability of the State’s fish stocks for the future".

“With continued sustainable development of the fishing industry over the next decade, the role of the offshore patrol vessel is expected to become even more strategically important in managing this valuable resource in waters adjacent to South Australia,” Mr McEwen said.

Capabilities of the ‘Southern Ranger’ include:

• A tactical on-water response to reports of suspected illegal fishing activity, including FISHWATCH reports and vessel monitoring;
• An operational presence in specific fishing zones based on intelligence analysis;
• Assisting in the collection of intelligence on suspected illegal fishing activity;
• Responding to shark threats where logistically possible
• Patrolling the State’s marine parks;
• Contributing to the education of fishers and the community about fisheries management and fisheries legislation;
• General surveillance of fishing zones under service level agreements with industry and other Government agencies including Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA), The Australian Customs Service, The Department for Transport, Energy & Infrastructure and The Department of Environment & Heritage (State and Commonwealth);
• An emergency response to disasters at sea as part of a formal arrangement with the South Australian Police Department and the Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure.

The new vessel replaces the 14-year old fisheries patrol vessel, the ‘Tucana’.

The ‘Southern Ranger’ has a state-of-the-art navigation system with the capacity to track vessels for considerable distances.

The long-range patrol vessel complements the department’s fleet of 23 smaller vessels that patrol rivers, gulfs and in-shore areas.

SA DEPORTEES IN "COVER-UP" ROW

Senator Amanda Vanstone and a senior immigration official have defended their decision to send an Adelaide-resident refugee family to Pakistan despite complaints of a cover-up by politicians and a refugee advocate.

Amidst calls by the Australian Democrats for an inquiry, DIMIA Deputy secretary Bob Correll said that "Any claims that the Bakhtiari family have a formal right of residence in Afghanistan do not affect the refugee assessments made in their cases, or the appropriateness of their return to Pakistan"

Refugee advocate Marylin Sheppard, whose research exposed the Vivian Alvarez scandal, asked today "When on earth is someone going to ask [Senator Vanstone} just how the hell Afghans get Pakistani citizenship without ever applying for it? Afghans are not allowed to have Pakistani citizenship."

‘The Government of Pakistan confirmed that the family are citizens of Pakistan. The Government of Pakistan confirmed this in writing and provided Pakistan travel documents for the family,’ Mr Correll said.

‘When the family was removed, they had no legal right to remain in Australia. Having pursued at least 20 different court appeals, all visa and court matters had been finalised. Pakistan had formally confirmed that they were citizens of Pakistan and so the department returned them to that country." he said. ‘If members of the family now choose to live in Afghanistan, that is their decision."

‘This does not create any basis for reopening their cases in Australia" he said

The Australian Democrats have called for an inquiry into the department's handling of the Bakhtyari case

Democrats Deputy Leader Senator Andrew Bartlett said that "One of the biggest features of the widely acknowledged cultural problems in D.I.M.I.A was a refusal to admit mistakes."

" The only way to get to the bottom of this is an independent investigation that can look at all the documents and all the evidence." Senator Bartlett said.

Senator Amanda Vanstone defended her department on Adelaide radio yesterday, saying that "I believe that proper processes were followed... it wasn't conclusive at the time, and they were unable to convince the department they were Afghanis, and they were unable to provide the department with appropriate documents."

"They were recognised by Pakistani authorities as Pakistani citizens so they were sent to Pakistan" Senator Vanstone said

Adelaide refugee advocate Marylin Sheppard said that "One woman [Senator Vanstone) transposed western values onto a poor girl from Afghanistan and called her a fraud and a liar." and asked "Did she apply for her baby boy to be a Pakistani citizen after registering his birth in SA as the child of Afghan parents?"

Ms Sheppard told ABC Radio that "No matter what Senator Vanstone says no one has the right to treat this girl and those children in the manner they've been treated by Australia "

DENTURE SERVICES DECAY

A decision to reallocate funding away from denture repair services may lead to elderly patients finding it difficult to get treatment, warned Kris Hanna MP, Member for Mitchell.

“A recent end to denture repair subsidies means that pensioners are now faced with the stark choice of either paying a lot of money for private treatment or waiting a potentially long period of time to see a technician at a community dental clinic” Mr Hanna said.

The decision to reduce funding for the State’s denture repair scheme was taken by the South Australian Dental Service. From the beginning of this week (Monday 26th), patients eligible to claim subsidies for treatment will only be seen at a community dental clinic, rather than at their local practice.

“If elderly people who require subsidised treatment are no longer permitted to be treated locally, the strain on community dental clinics could increase dramatically and waiting times could shoot up" said Mr Hanna.

SOUTH AUSTRALIAN WINES SHOWCASED IN INDIA

Some of South Australia’s best-known and most successful wines are being showcased in India this week, as part of a major South Australian business and trade mission.

As many as 50 Indian wine importers, wholesalers, retailers, hoteliers and media organisations will have a chance to sample the wines and talk with the winemakers, at a series of "Great Australia Wine Adventures."

The South Australian winemakers involved include Primo Estate, Bleasdale Wines, Grant Burge, Langmeil Winery, Heath Wines and DiGiorgio Wines, with more than 20 award winning wines on display and available for tasting.

Speaking from Bangalore, Industry and Trade Minister Paul Holloway says it’s hoped future wine sales to India will match the export success to countries such as Great Britain and the United States.

“South Australia’s wine industry has grown to become one of the leading producers of the world, with close to 50% of Australia’s wine grapes crushed in SA, and 60% of Australia’s wine exports from SA wineries,” said Mr Holloway.

“South Australian wines are now sold in 113 countries, with the U.K. continuing to be the biggest single market.” he said. “Right now, Australia lags behind France and the United States in terms of being a major wine supplier to the India market. However, the Government and our local wine industry are determined to increase SA’s share of what is a potentially huge market.”

The travelling wine exhibition opened in Mumbai on Monday night, continues tonight in Bangalore, and will end in Delhi on Friday.

RURAL VEHICLE REGISTRATION SUBSIDY TO BE SCRAPPED

The Government is considering scrapping motor vehicle registration subsidies for country South Australians, resulting in extra costs for motorists, the Liberal Party has warned.

Liberal transport spokesman Robert Brokenshire said a delegation from the Provincial Cities Association of South Australia (PCA) had been warned by Transport Minister Pat Conlon that the subsidy could be cut if they continued to fight for the State Government to fully-fund regional bus services.

Mr Brokenshire said the intimidation tactic was unacceptable. “Country drivers are already paying record prices for petrol – much higher than people in the metropolitan area – and travel greater distances." he said. “Imposing an extra charge will further hurt all country families and individuals.”

Mr Brokenshire said the Liberal Party would stand-up for regional South Australians, and that a future Liberal government would not withdraw the subsidy, sayig that “The Liberal Party will wholeheartedly support the PCA in its attempts to have this plan overturned.”

DEMOCRATS OPPOSE TERRORISM LEGISLATION

The South Australian Democrats State Parliamentary team will vote against the Howard-Rann State Terrorism Bill.

“We oppose any such Bill, strongly, vigorously, and public" said S.A. Democrats Parliamentary leader Sandra Kanck MLC. " “If we pass this legislation, the terrorists will win,”

The Democrats have urged Liberal and Labor MP’s in State Parliament to vote with their conscience when the draconian Bills are introduced.

The Liberal-Labor/Federal-State agreement requires all Australian State and Territory Parliaments to pass the legislation for it to become national law.

“Any laws which lead to racial profiling, force citizens to wear tracking devices on their ankles or wrists, and put people in jail for two weeks without being charged, are anti-Australian and anti-democratic. These are the very freedoms we need to protect. If we take them away, Australia loses and the terrorists win.” Ms Kanck said.

The South Australian Democrats have urged Liberal and Labor MP’s in State Parliament to vote with their conscience when the draconian Bills are introduced.

“The Democrats will also exercise a conscience vote – and our conscience is clear,” Ms Kanck said.

SA SEAFOOD REVENUE DIVES

The State Opposition has claimed that fishing revenue has fallen 20% in the last three years.

A leaked government report shows Fisheries Minister Rory McEwen is in denial about the disastrous export performance of South Australia’s seafood industry.

“Last week we received a leaked copy of the SA Food Scorecard which shows seafood revenue has fallen by 20% under Labor,” Mr Kerin said.

Mr Kerin claimed that SA’s seafood revenue has fallen from $856 million to $679 million under the Rann Government. Despite this, Mr McEwen today claimed the industry would be worth $2 billion if it doubled in value. Mr Kerin said that "The report also says that 10,000 jobs have been lost from the food industry in 12 months. That means we now have to triple the value of the industry to reach our target, not just double it" .

LIBS CALL FOR TRAM FLIP PROBE

Liberal Transport spokesperson has called for an inquiry into the safety of Adelaide’s tram tracks after the third tram derailment in 10 days.

Mr Brokenshire said Transport Minister Conlon had been highly visible during the announcement of new trams in King William St but less vocal in relation to a series of derailments on the government’s recently refurbished tram lines.

“This tired repetition of TransAdelaide tram derailments can no longer be blamed on drivers,” Mr Brokenshire said. “A high level inquiry is needed to get to the bottom of the problem. We have just had a nine-week tram service closure to allow a track refurbishment project to proceed. The main outcome seems to be an unprecedented spate of derailments.

He said that “We now need a full inquiry into the entire tram refurbishment project, which has already blown out by $13 million before the $50 million for new tracks to North Adelaide and a further $11 million for extra trams is factored in.”

Mr Brokenshire said there appeared to be something wrong with the tram track upgrade.

“The Rann Government can’t keep blaming the tram drivers when it didn’t even complete the track renovation into the Glengowrie tram depot,” he said

CLIMATE CHANGE SUMMIT

The State Government will host a summit later this year focusing on how to tackle climate change.

“This will be a comprehensive summit bringing together experts, policy-makers, business and industry representatives, green groups and a whole range of people to really focus on the challenge that climate change will confront us with, and to look at ways that we can tackle it,’’ he said.

“This week governments across Australia are focusing on terrorism, but climate change has been identified as just as significant a threat to our lives. South Australia is doing something about it – this State Government is acting by developing our own climate change strategy to guide how we will deal with climate change.

A wide variety of interest groups will be invited to attend the summit, as well as the Economic Development Board, Social Inclusion Board and Premier’s Roundtable on Sustainability.

Minister Hill said as well as developing a Greenhouse Strategy, and setting the targets of the Kyoto Protocol in South Australia’s Strategic Plan, the State Government had already introduced practical measures aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions in South Australian homes.

“We have mandated greener hot water systems for all new homes from July next year with the aim of reducing our greenhouse gas emissions. We are also moving towards renewable energy for our public buildings, including Parliament House, and our schools,’’ he said

SA RECRUITING IN MUMBAI FOR DEFENCE AND RESEARCH WORKERS

The S.A. Government is attempting to recruit workers to the State from the commercial centre of India.

Addressing a seminar on ''Living, Working and Studying in South Australia'' in Mumbai this week, S.A. Trade and Industry Minister Paul Holloway said bio-science, automotive, manufacturing, medical research and hospitality were sectors where his country could employ people from the developing countries.

Mr Holloway said that South Australia offers varied job opportunities for overseas workers across a range of key industries including defence, healthcare and engineering.

''If you have skills in these areas, South Australia invites you to be a part of our cutting-edge defence industry,'' he enthused.

The Trade Minister referred to S.A. as the high technology centre of Australia's defence industry, leading the country in shipbuilding, submarine support, aerospace and defence research and development.

In a statement released last March, S.A. Premier Mike Rann said his Government had set a target to boost the number of people employed in the State’s defence industry from 16 000 to 28 000.

Mr Rann said that" Positioning ourselves to win more contracts will help us to achieve so many of South Australia’s Strategic Plan targets on job creation, economic growth, investment, interstate migration, exports, strategic infrastructure and establishing co-operative research centres and centres of excellence."

He said that “To win more defence contracts, we have to demonstrate that South Australia has the skills, the infrastructure, and the full-throttle backing of the SA Government."

Mr Holloway and the South Australian delegation will also travel to Bangalore and Chennai, with the aim of the mission to promote the South Australian education, wine, water, toolmaking and information technology sectors, as well as promoting SA as a migration destination.

Premier Rann will lead a trade delegation to India next month.

The head of the state's peak information and commutications technology lobby group told The Australian the government of "not looking in its own backyard" for skills.

ICT Council for SA chairman David Raffen, told the newspaper that the Premier was "wasting taxpayer's money" and should be paying more attention to the state's existing capabilities.

The Council has previously expressed concern at a suggestion by Administrative and Information Services Minister, Jay Weatherill, that industry development will not be a dominant factor in the Government's future ICT services procurement.

P.M. FUNDS NATIONAL TERROR INITIATIVES

Prime Minister John Howard today announced funding for a new counterterrorsm package.

The funding will support measures agreed upon between the Federal Government and the nations' State Premiers.

Following today's meeting of the Council of Australian Governments’ meeting (COAG) to discuss national counter-terrorism arrangements Mr Howard announced $40 million in additional funding for a range of measures "to deliver increased safety and security to all Australians."

These measures are in addition to the Government’s recent commitment of $200 million to further tighten security at Australia’s major airports.

Initiatives announced today include:

• $17.3 million over five years to establish an Australian Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Data Centre located within the Australian Federal Police (AFP);
• $2.4 million over five years to support the establishment of a Chemical Warfare Agents Laboratory Network, which will provide a network of laboratories across Australia for the analysis of chemical agents;
• $9.2 million over four years for the enhancement of Australia’s national counter-terrorism exercise regime - the enhanced programme will provide a greater focus on exercising Australia’s ability to manage mass casualty incidents, particularly in places such as major city precincts and transport hubs;
• $1.3 million over four years to support the development of a national strategy to explain to the public, through a set of clear, concise messages, the arrangements set out in the National Counter-Terrorism Plan and improved, centralised communication with the media during a crisis;
• $5.9 million in 2005-06 to support the development of a national action plan to build on the principles agreed at my recent meeting with Islamic community leaders and to undertake a range of related work including Muslim community liaison, community partnership projects, a national youth summit and leadership and media training;
• $1 million over three years for Commonwealth aspects of the implementation of the National Counter-Terrorism Committee’s review of urban mass passenger surface transport security arrangements; and
• $700,000 to assist Commonwealth participation in the National Counter-Terrorism Committee review of closed circuit television capability and development of a national code of practice.
• Further, the COAG has agreed to establish a unified policing model at each of the 11 counter-terrorism first response (CTFR) airports including: an Airport Police Commander, a dedicated Joint Intelligence Group, a CTFR capability and a permanent community policing presence, and at each of the major international airports (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide), a Joint Airport Investigation Team.

The Australian Government has agreed to fully fund under the unified model a full-time community policing presence of AFP officers wearing AFP uniforms and under AFP command at all major Australian airports, with officers seconded or recruited from State and Territory police forces. The funding details for this initiative will be settled and announced shortly.

The COAG communiqué can be found at: www.coag.gov

Australian Lawyers Alliance president Richard Faulks told ABC News that the laws are totalitarian and un-Australian.

"Depending on what the final version is, I think it is a retrograde step, and one that we didn't need," Mr Faulks said.

"Australians value their freedom and even though everyone is concerned about terrorism and rightly so, there are steps that can be taken that are still consistent with proper safeguards which are part of our everyday life."

The union for the Australian Federal Police (AFP) has told the ABC that it does not have enough officers to take on the new airport security functions approved today.

Spokesman Jim Torr said that more than 600 employees have been redeployed to counter-terrorism functions since the September 11 terrorist attacks.

"The AFP has to grow proportionately to the scope of the increase of its role," he said.

South Australian Premier Mike Rann told the Financial Review he was confident the leaders would convince Mr Howard to include a sunset clause as part of the package. "I think that a sunset clause after 10 years would be a smart thing."

He said that terrorism was just another word for mass murder, and the new laws should reflect the seriousness of the crime.

SA WATER DEAL MAY MEAN SUMMER BAY DUSTBOWL

A deal by SA Water to sell recycled water to Adelaide Airport has led to a 1600% price rise in water sold to local community groups.

The arrangement is claimed to threaten the future of major sports grounds and golf courses in the West Beach-Glenelg recreation precinct.

Local MP Duncan McFetridge said SA Water had already told some of the clubs that as result of a new deal to supply the airport with treated effluent from the Glenelg WWTP, the cost of recycled water for existing customers in the local recreation precinct would skyrocket from 2.5c per kilolitre to 41c per kilolitre

He said that Adelaide Shores, the Glenelg and Kooyonga golf courses, Glenelg Baseball Club, the Metropolitan Showjumping Club and Holdfast Bay Council will all be severely affected by SA Water ending a decades-old agreement to supply recycled water from Glenelg Wastewater Treatment Plant.

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Dr McFetridge said SA Water’s ultimatum meant the clubs and facilities faced the stark alternative of turning off the water and turning the area's golf courses and sports grounds into "a summer dustbowl.," concluding that it was "incredibly disappointing and disloyal that SA Water – a 100% government-owned corporation – should choose to leave the community high and dry in this way.”