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Media Release

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Minister for Justice,

Senator the Hon. Amanda Vanstone

Senator for South Australia

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13 January 1998

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VANSTONE ANNOUNCES UPGRADE OF EXPLOSIVE DETECTION DOG CAPABILITY

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Senator Amanda Vanstone, Minister for Justice, today announced the 
upgr ade of the Commonwealth's Explosive Detection Dog capability 
in the lead up to the Sydney 2000 Olympics.

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"Upgrading the 
Commonwealth's Explosive Detection Dog capability is a vital component 
of Australia's counter terrorist measures", said Senator Vanstone.

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This decision supports 
a recent amendment to the Air Navigation Regulations which specifies 
minimum numbers of Explosive Detection Dogs at Australia's busiest airports 
in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

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The Australian Protective 
Service (APS) has provided Counter Terrorist First Response at Australia's 
major airports since 1991, paid for by airport operators. This responsibility 
includes explosive detection and appraisal, and a number of Explosive 
Detection Dogs are employed.

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The advantages of using 
dogs for explosives detection are well known. Dogs are compact, mobile 
and able to work effectively in a variety of conditions including confined 
spaces and difficult terrain. They can also reduce the manpower and 
time required for many operations.

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The Commonwealth upgrade 
of its EDD capability will mean both an increase in the number of EDDs 
employed by the Australian Protective Service and the switch to a new 
canine explosive detection program developed by the United States' Department 
of the Treasury, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF).

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Under a collaborative 
agreement between Australia and the US Department of State's, Diplomatic 
Security Services Anti-Terrorism Assistance Program, 14 trained dogs 
will be provided.

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These dogs will be shared 
between the the Australian Protective Service and the NSW Police Service 
in support of Olympic requirements.

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The APS and NSW Police 
Service will meet the on-going cost of this program, while US Department 
of State, Diplomatic Security Services, will provide the dogs and their 
initial training.

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The ATF training method 
has proven to be rapid and effective, producing versatile, highly motivated 
dogs. Training is based on food reward conditioning, and uses Labrador 
Retrievers rather than the German Shepherds, which are currently used 
in Australia.

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ATF trained dogs are 
used extensively in the United States, and are also being successfully 
employed in areas of high terrorist risk such as Israel, Cyprus, Greece, 
Egypt, Chile, Italy and Argentina.

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"The support provided 
by the US Department of State in establishing this new program is much 
appreciated", said Senator Vanstone.

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Training for the new 
Explosive Detection Dogs will commence mid year, with all dogs expected 
to commence work in Australia by January 1999.

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BACKGROUND INFORMATION

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ATF Canine Explosives Detection Program

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The new explosives detection 
program, arranged by the Commonwealth with the United States Government, 
enables the detection of a wider range of explosives and in smaller 
quantities than other programs. It was developed in the USA by the Bureau 
of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms - the agency responsible for investigating 
the majority of all bombings in the United States of America.

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The program relies on a food reward system, whereby a dog  is 
rewarded with food after successfully detecting an explosive compound. 
The dogs are never fed without exposure to explosives odour, ensuring 
that they remain highly motivated.

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To pass the certification 
test, ATF trained dogs must score 100% accuracy. They must successfully 
detect 20 explosive compounds, giving them the ability to identify over 
19,000 explosive compositions known worldwide.

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The ATF sources its 
dogs from the US Guide Dog Foundation, and the initial 14 dogs to be 
received by Australia will come from the US.

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The offer by the United 
States allows for the training of 14 Australian dog teams, comprising 
a handler and Explosive Detection Dog. All handlers will come from the 
APS and NSW Police Service. A small number of these handlers will also 
be trained and certified as Specialist Explosive Canine Trainers. This 
arrangement will allow for a transfer of skills so that future dog teams 
may be Australian trained.

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This special collaborative arrangement will enhance Australia's EDD 
capability, particularly in the area of aviation security in preparation 
for the Sydney 2000 Olympics

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Australian Protective Service

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The APS is the Commonwealth 
Government's specialist law enforcement agency in the field of protective 
security services.

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APS core responsibilities 
include the protection of Parliament House in Canberra, the residences 
of the Prime Minister and the Governor-General, foreign diplomatic missions, 
security designated airports around Australia, and sensitive Defence 
establishments including Pine Gap and Maralinga, the former atomic weapon 
testing site in South Australia.

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Due to the special nature 
of these tasks, they can only be undertaken by the Government's protective 
security agency.

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Part of the Attorney-General's 
Department, the APS is a cost recovery agency undertaking a range of 
services to Commonwealth clients. The APS does not receive specific 
budget funding for services.

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In competition with 
the private sector, the APS also offers a range of security services, 
including training, to government and areas of Commonwealth interest.

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APS officers are invested 
with specific law enforcement powers in accordance with their special 
responsibilities for protecting assets and people of national and international 
importance.

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The APS's position in 
the Attorney-General's Department, has enabled it to establish close 
operational links with the state and federal police forces, and with 
intelligence and anti-terrorist units both within Australia and overseas.

