Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697636225687.pdf (Australia)
SENATE STANDING COMMITTEE ON LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS ATTORNEY-GENERAL’S DEPARTMENT Group 3 Question No.

55 Senator Rhiannon asked the following question at the hearing on 24 February 2014: Senator RHIANNON: Could you explain the language that is used to promote the ASIO Business Liaison Unit workshop about making doing business in Africa more productive.

It talks about 'possible partnering opportunities' and 'providing information briefings to executives and staff'.
The explanation you have just given around threats does not come through here; the emphasis is on making business more productive.

Mr Irvine: I am not aware of the document you are quoting from.

Senator RHIANNON: It is from the ASIO BLU website.

Mr Irvine: Let me say to you that our Business Liaison Unit is just that, and it is there to provide security advice to Australian companies whether they are operating overseas or here in Australia.
And if the safety of Australians operating overseas working for those companies is enhanced, then maybe their productivity will be enhanced too.

Senator RHIANNON: Do you run any workshops with any other Australian business sectors such as the finance sector overseas?

Mr Irvine: Yes, we do.

I would have to check back to find out exactly which sectors, but our business website has a number of subscribers from the private sector.

I would need to check which sectors.


Senator RHIANNON: Could you take it on notice to tell me what the other sectors are—because it was only coming through that it is with the resource industry.

Mr Irvine: I will take that on notice, yes.

The answer to the honourable senator’s question is as follows: As a point of clarification, at the time of the hearing I was unaware of the document to which Senator Rhiannon was referring.
However, I can now say the document Senator Rhiannon was quoting from was not, and had never been, on ASIO’s website or the ASIO Business Liaison Unit (BLU) website.

The document may have been from the Australia-Africa Mining Industry Group (AAMIG) website promoting the event and expressing a view of the AAMIG (see Annexure A).

The roundtable discussion referred to on the webpage Senator Rhiannon quoted from was arranged by the AAMIG for ASIO to provide advice on the security environment in Africa.
The BLU does similar briefings in relation to other areas of the resource sector’s work as well as in relation to other business sectors.

The role of the BLU is to raise the awareness of Australian businesses about national security threats that may affect their interests.

This is primarily achieved by publishing intelligence-backed unclassified advice and reporting on the domestic and international security environment to raise awareness in the private sector about national security.
This enables Australian businesses to recognise and respond to national security threats and develop appropriate risk mitigation strategies for such threats.
In addition to the reporting published on the website, the BLU also:  holds face-to-face meetings with businesses;  provides classified briefing days to sector representatives; Y  attends key industry forums to inform Australian businesses of their role; and  supports a Register of Australian Interests Overseas to supplement travel advisories by sharing information with businesses regarding specific, imminent and credible threats.
In the past 12 months, the BLU has provided advice to the following sectors: transport, energy and resources, banking and finance, communications, utilities, places of mass gathering (such as shopping centres and sporting stadiums), education, food supply, health, hospitality, essential manufacturing, emergency services and consultancies.

Further information on the BLU’s activities is available in the ASIO Report to Parliament 2012–13.
Y Annexure A: Australia-Africa Mining Industry Group website screenshots Y Y