Fed: Rudd delivers national security statement = 4

AAP General News (Australia)
12-04-2008
Fed: Rudd delivers national security statement = 4

Mr Rudd pledged to strengthen e-security.

"The irony of technology today is that, while on the one hand we are seeking to invest
in sophisticated information, intelligence and military technology, on the other we have
to protect ourselves from the extreme use of basic, readily available technology by terrorist
groups," he said.

The threats posed by climate change, including unregulated population movements, declining
food production and catastrophic weather events would be incorporated into Australia's
national security policy, Mr Rudd said.

The prime minister said one of Mr Lewis' first tasks would be to establish an executive
development program in national security.

"This program will initially be aimed at senior officials, with a view to broadening
(it) over time to include counterparts in the private sector, academia and the non-government
sector," he said.

One of the options under consideration as part of the program was a national security college.

Mr Rudd said he intended to periodically deliver national security statements to parliament.

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