Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697636515979.pdf (Australia)
AEbAIil B(IRDER T(IRCE ocoM 2017l108 COMMISSIONER Committee Secretary Joint Standing Committee on the National Capital and External Territories PO Box 6021 Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600 Dear Committee Secretary I write regarding the Committee's inquiry into the strategic importance of the Indian Ocean Territories.
Please find below a short submission representing the views of the Department of lmmigration and Border Protection (the Department) on the Indian Ocean Territories regional security environment and contingencies, and the related impacts on local communities.

Overview Australia's marilime environment makes up around 10 per cent of the earth's surface and our Exclusive Economic Zone is the third largest in the world.
This makes the border one of Australia's key strategic assets and its integrity is reliant on effectively managing waters surrounding our territory.

The Indian Ocean Territories are a critical part of the Department's protection and enforcement activities.

Through the Maritime Border Command, the Department has a unique role in protecting Australia's civil maritime domain and is the primary deterrence to the eight civil maritime security threats: 1 .
lllegal maritime arrivals 2. lllegal exploitation of natural resources 3. lllegal activity in protected areas 4.

Marine pollution 5.

Prohibitedimports/exports 6.

Compromise to bio-security 7.

Piracy, robbery or violence at sea 8.

Maritime terrorism Maritime Border Command is also a first responder to civil maritime security incidents.

The Department uses an intelligenceJed, risk-based intervention approach to prioritise oDerations to counter these civil maritime security threats.
The changing regional security environment and security contingencies Christmas lsland and Cocos (Keeling) lslands have been consistently targeted by organised people smugglers and as landing points for the import and export of prohibited goods and illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.

The Department assesses that 6 Chan Street Belconnen ACT 2617 Po Box 25 Belconnen ACT 2616 .
Telephone: 02 6264 1111 ' Faxi 02 6225 6970 ' www border'gov au Strategic importance of the Indian Ocean TerritoriesSubmission 10 because of their proximity to trafficking and smuggling corridors the Indian Ocean Territories will continue to be a target for illegal maritime ventures.

The Indian Ocean Tenitories are strategically important for the Department and other Commonwealth agencies to support and stage operations responding to the eight civil maritime security threats.
In addition to ground based radar, the Department deploys both aerial and marine surveillance and enforcement capabilities from Christmas and Cocos (Keeling) lslands, as well as from Perth, Darwin and other parts of the west and north-west Australian coast.
The Department operates the Christmas lsland lmmigration Detention Centre and has a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in place with the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development to use Quarantine Station on Cocos (Keeling) lslands as temporary accommodation for illegal maritime arrivals until they can be transferred to Christmas lsland for processing.

These facilities are critical to maintaining the integrity of Australia's migration framework and ensuring our international obligations are met.
The Department assesses there is an enduring and credible threat to Australia from organised illegal maritime ventures, particularly through the Indian Ocean Territories.

The Department continues to plan with Commonwealth partners, particularly the Department of Defence, to mitigate these threats into the future and ensure Australian Border Force (ABF) operations retain priority access to relevant facilities, infrastructure, services and support capabilities for these locations.
lmpacts on local communities The local communities of the Indian Ocean Tenitories are critical to the Department's operations and ongoing support of these communities is important.

on christmas lsland, the Deoartment has an MOU with the Australian Federal Police to provide policing services, an emergency response capability and a major incident response capability for incidents at the detention facility.

This arrangement ensures the safety of staff, detainees and the local community.
The Department has invested in the critical infrastructure of Indian Ocean Territories for its operations, which also provide increased benefits for local communities.
The Department has contributed to improvements to local roads and airports and access to reliable internet and other communication services which have delivered increased services to Indian Ocean Territories communities The Departmenlled increase in commercial flight traffic to and from the lndian Ocean Territories has also boosted tourism and local hospitality sectors in these locations.
Likewise, the Department's operations provide a source of employment for local communities - the Department seeks to utilise local labourers, tradesmen and businesses to support ABF operations where possible.

I looK forward to the findings of the inquiry.

Yours sincerely Roman Quaedvlieg APM Commissioner // ranuav 2o1t Strategic importance of the Indian Ocean TerritoriesSubmission 10