National Security Policy Branch
The National Security Policy Branch is the central coordination point for national security policy functions within the National Security and Criminal Justice group. The Branch develops and provides strategic policy advice regarding emerging national security issues to ensure the Department continues to play a leadership role in the whole-of-government approach to national security. The Branch is responsible for a wide range of coordination and collaboration functions regarding national security, ensuring that decision-making in high level groups and committees is informed by input from a range of sources. The Branch is also responsible for implementing the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) inter-governmental agreement on chemical security.
The branch comprises four sections:
National Security Policy Section
National Security Policy Section provides policy advice to guide whole-of-government national security policy development, and strategies and programs. The section is the departmental point of contact for national security-related policy matters, including liaising with external stakeholders and counterparts. The section also monitors policy responses to emerging national security-related issues (ie. human, food and water security). The section is also responsible for the Wireless Priority Service System which enables priority access to the mobile telephone network for senior decision-making and emergency responders during network congestion.
Chemical Security Risk Assessment Unit
Chemical Security Risk Assessment Unit develops a validated risk assessment methodology, and coordinates and undertakes chemical security risk assessments on identified chemicals of security concern. Chemical security risk assessments are informed by data provided by law enforcement and intelligence agencies, government regulators and industry.
Chemical Security Coordination Unit
Chemical Security Coordination Unit assists industry and State/Territory governments to improve general awareness and security measures to help stop chemicals of security concern falling into the wrong hands. Please see the Chemical Security website for further details: This section also coordinates the work of the National Government Advisory Group on Chemical Security and the National Industry Reference Group on Chemical Security.
Chemical Security Policy Unit
Chemical Security Policy Unit develops policy responses to mitigate security risks posed by chemicals of security concern. This includes undertaking regulatory impacts analyses on proposed risk treatments that could have significant cost implications for industry.