Coastal Surveillance Task Force Review

Following two undetected arrivals of Suspected Illegal Entrant Vessels (SIEVs) on the eastern seaboard in early 1999, the Prime Minister established a Coastal Surveillance Task Force to review the following:

• intelligence gathering and analysis
• the capability of current aircraft and equipment
• the interface between Coastwatch and Defence/intelligence and
• other related issues the task force may identify.

The Task Force made 18 recommendations in its report which were subsequently fully accepted and funded by Government.

Additional resources were approved, including marine and aircraft crews, new aircraft, increased staff and a new National Surveillance Centre, that combined the existing operational and planning capability with a new analytical role.

Further, a new position of Director-General Coastwatch was created. This position was to be filled by a seconded senior Defence officer. The Director-General was to report directly to the Chief Executive Officer of Customs. This was a significant change as previously the head of Coastwatch reported to the National Director of the Customs Border program.