Fed: Overhaul of national security budget needed

AAP General News (Australia)
04-23-2008
Fed: Overhaul of national security budget needed

A leading academic's recommending national security spending be brought under one new
department .. as part of a major budget overhaul.

At present security costs are spread across a range of departments including prime
minister and cabinet .. defence .. foreign affairs and the Attorney-General's Department.

The director of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute's national security project
.. CARL UNGERER .. says this leaves the country open to an increasingly complex tapestry
of threats.

In a report released today .. Professor UNGERER says what's needed is a new Office
of National Security .. an independent statutory authority.

He says its responsibilities would cut across terrorism .. climate change .. drug trafficking
and people smuggling.

AAP RTV pv/tm/bart

KEYWORD: SECURITY (CANBERRA)

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