NATIONAL SECURITY DISCUSSIONS WITH SINGAPOREAN DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER
18 March 2009
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today met with Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security, Professor Shunmugan Jayakumar, to discuss a broad range of national security issues facing Australia, Singapore and the wider region.
The Attorney-General updated Professor Jayakumar on Australia’s ‘all-hazards’ approach to national security including counter-terrorism legislation, critical infrastructure protection, chemical security and the need to treat organised crime as a national security issue.
Mr McClelland said, “Singapore has introduced a number of innovative national security initiatives which we can learn from in Australia.”
“In particular, Singapore’s emphasis on enhancing social cohesion and resilience in order to lessen the appeal of radical ideology is an important aspect in addressing the root causes of terrorism.”
“I was also interested to receive an update on Singapore’s national security architecture and am keen to look more closely at the mechanisms Professor Jayakumar has instituted to coordinate this important work.”
“These initiatives have a great potential to assist national security capacity building in the Asia-Pacific region,” Mr McClelland said.
During his visit to Australia, Professor Jayakumar will also receive operational briefings on a variety of national security areas, including crisis coordination and energy security.
The Governments of Australia and Singapore are committed to maintaining our close relationship, including an open and ongoing dialogue on important bi-lateral and regional national security issues.
Media Contact: Adam Siddique 0407 473 630
