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More electronic records breached in 2008 than in the previous four years combined


According to Verizon Business's 2009 Verizon Bsuiness Data Breach Investigations Report, corporations fell victim to some of the largest cybercrimes ever during 2008.

Telstra IP network upgrade and the dialler market


ASIAL recently wrote to Telstra’s Chairman seeking clarification on the impact that the rollout of Telstra’s IP network upgrade will have on the range of monitored security services provided to business and residential customers.

Unisys Security Index report


According to a recent Unisys Security Index (conducted in December 2008), 53% of Australians are very or extremely concerned about unauthorised access to or misuse of their personal information, and 51% of Australians are very or extremely concerned about other people obtaining their credit card / debit card details.

The Unisys Security Index is a global research endeavour that gauges public perception of major security issues in 13 countries.
www.unisyssecurityindex.com.

AS/NZS 2201 Suite of Standards


Upon joining ASIAL, members accept an obligation to adhere to Australian Standards as a minimum, and in the electronic sector this includes the AS/NZS 2201 suite of Standards.
Changes have been made recently to AS/NZS 2201 and members should make themselves familiar with all parts. Find out more
Copies of the standards can be purchased from the SAI Global website

Addressing the CCTV Skills Shortage


A Discussion Paper has been prepared outlining the development of an industry-driven Certification Program for Electronic Security Professionals. Comment is being sought from the industry on the proposal to establish an industry certification program.

New home for ASIAL


Following the recent acquisition of a 3 level commercial property in Crows Nest, the ASIAL Secretariat will be relocating over the coming months. With over 450 m² of floor space, the building represents a major investment in the industry’s future.Back to top

NSW / ACT



Changes to NSW Police Alarm Response Policy


The NSW Police Force has recently written to all alarm monitoring centres to advise them of important new guidelines when requesting police attendance to alarms (see letter and accompanying Schedule below.)

This initiative is designed to help focus available police resources on attending genuine/potentially serious incidents.

While NSW Police Force is aware and mindful of legal and operational complexities resulting from monitoring centre/bureau relationships, they will not accept these as justification for ongoing non-compliance.

ASIAL strongly recommends that members advise their commercial customers to install compliant hold-up activation devices as soon as possible if they believe they fall within the Schedule 1.1 hold-up alarm response category.

NSW security licence revoked for alleged fraud


An investigation into security industry fraud instigated by the NSW Police Force and handed to the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) has led to the revocation of the security licence of a major industry training provider.

Officers from the NSW Police Force and ICAC executed search warrants this week on Roger Training Academy Pty Ltd, an approved registered training organisation, following an investigation into its training practices.

Security Industry Registry to increase fees


New security industry licensing fees apply from 16 March 2009 for operators in NSW.
The fee increases will recover new costs incurred by the Registry for national criminal record and fingerprint identification checks.
The Registry will NOT accept any applications received on or after 16 March 2009 that are not accompanied by the relevant new fee amount (including resubmitted applications that were previously received by the SIR before this date).
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VIC / TAS



New training conditions imposed on Victorian training organisations


Licensing Services Division (LSD) in Victoria has sent a letter dated 13 March 2009 to all approved Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) to advise them of two new conditions being imposed on their approval by the Chief Commissioner under the provisions of section 172 (2) of the Private Security Act 2004.
The two conditions are:
  • The Certificate II in Security Operations shall not be delivered in less than ten days (80 hours) of training (excluding First Aid) in a classroom environment; and
  • The Certificate III in Security Operations (Crowd Control) will not be delivered to a person holding a private security individual operator licence for less than 3 months.

VIC - Surveillance in Public Places: Consultation Paper


The Victorian Law reform commission's Surveillance in Public Places: Consultation Paper has been released for public comment. The consultation paper includes:
• An explanation of how surveillance is used in public places and how it is regulated
• A discussion of privacy theory in the context of public places
• An examination of the risks and benefits of public place surveillance
• Proposals for reform

The deadline for submissions is 30 June 2009.

TAS - Granting of Licences under the

Security and Investigations Agents Act 2002


The Department of Justice, Consumer Affairs and Fair Trading, has developed a Policy Document to guide the process of granting and not granting security licences.

The Commissioner intends to have the Policy Document certified by the Minister in terms of section 27 of the Magistrates Court (Administrative Appeals Division) Act 2001 for use by the Commissioner when there is an appeal against the Commissioner's decision not to grant a licence.
View the Policy Document
View the letter addressed to ASIAL from the Commissioner

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QLD / NT



Amendment to the

Security Providers Act

in QLD


ASIAL members are advised that the Criminal Proceeds Confiscation and Other Acts Amendments Bill 2008, incorporating amendments to the Security Providers Act 1993 received its 3rd reading in the Queensland Parliament on Wednesday, 11 February 2009.

Among the changes to the Security Providers Act:
  • Amendments to the grounds for suspension, cancellation or refusal of a licence (including offences against the Industrial Relations Act 1999 and Workplace Relations Act 1996) and
  • A requirement for a security firm to be a member of an approved security industry association.
View the Amendments (Select Criminal Proceeds Confiscation and Other Acts Amendments Bill 2008)

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WA / SA



New business training for security/investigation agents in SA


The South Australian Commissioner has approved new training under the BSB07 Business Services Training Package for those persons undertaking a security/investigation agents licence.

A Statement of Attainment showing satisfactory completion of, or status granted in, the following two units of competency conferred by a Registered Training Organisation registered to deliver the units:

BSBSMB401A - Establish legal and risk management requirements of small business; and
BSBSMB402A - Plan small business finances.
For further information visit www.agd.sa.gov.au

Maintaining a register for incidents involving the use of force


Following inspections of licensed premisies by authorised officers (police and OLGC inspectors) it is clear that some licensees are failing to comply with the requirements of Schedule 1A of the Liquor Licensing Regulations, when removing persons or preventing entry to licensed premises, pursuant to sections 116, 124 and 127 of the Liquor Licensing Act, 1997.
Read more

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In the press



Malware detected that allows a hacker full control over an ATM


Article originally appeared in SC Magazine online, 05/06/09
Advanced malware that allows full control over an ATM through a customised user interface has been detected.
An investigation by Trustwave's SpiderLabs performed an analysis of malware found installed on compromised ATMs in Eastern Europe. It found that the malware is able to capture magnetic stripe data and PIN codes from the private memory space of transaction-processing applications installed on a compromised ATM.
Read full article

Airports to screen all passengers entering Australia for swine flu


Article originally appeared in SMH online, 30/04/09
Thermal scanners will start screening travellers for high temperatures at eight of Australia's international airports this afternoon to help prevent swine flu from entering the nation's borders.
Read full article

Police hire security guards


Article originally appeared in The Courier-Mail, 28/01/09
Public servants are on the receiving end of so much verbal and physical abuse that security guards have been hired to protect them - even at Police headquarters.
Read full article

Virtual reality range for NSW Police


Article originally appeared in the Sun-Herald, 4/1/09
The NSW Police Force will spend about $2 million on a virtual reality shooting range as senior officers blame a lack of training for recruits being frightened of firearms.
Read full article

Security skills shortage may worsen


Article orginally appeared in www.prlog.org, 13/01/09
Dr Shorrock, Psychologist and senior lecturer with the University of New South Wales' Department of Aviation, says in an interview that recent international events show that security threats have not diminished.
Read full article

Woman fools Japan's airport security fingerprint system


Article originally appeared in The Age, 2/1/09
A south Korean woman barred from entering Japan last year has reportedly passed through its immigration screening system by using tape on her fingers to fool a fingerprint reading machine.
Read full article



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