Responses to Security Sensitive Biological Agents (SSBA) risks by the Australian Federal Police
Paul Roffey A B and Michelle Gahan A CA Australian Federal Police
B Tel.: +61 2 5126 2585, Email: paul.roffey@afp.gov.au
C Tel.: +61 2 5126 4844, Email: michelle.gahan@afp.gov.au
Microbiology Australia 41(3) 128-131 https://doi.org/10.1071/MA20034
Published: 13 August 2020
Abstract
As Australia’s national law enforcement agency the Australia Federal Police (AFP) plays a number of roles, broadly grouped under intelligence and investigation, in supporting a whole of government approach to responding to, and mitigating, risks from Security Sensitive Biological Agents (SSBA). The AFP is responsible for coordinating the investigation of national and transnational crimes, which includes acts of bioterrorism, and preventing, countering and responding to attacks in Australia and on Australian interests overseas. This paper provides an overview of the responses to SSBA risks by the AFP.
References
[1] Australian Academy of Science (2006) The changing risk environment: ideas for a new Australian policy framework for handling risks. https://www.science.org.au/supporting-science/science-sector-analysis/reports-and-publications/changing-risk-environment-ideas[2] Australian Government Department of Health (2020) Security Sensitive Biological Agents. https://www1.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/ssba.htm
[3] Australian Government Department of Health (2020) SSBA Guideline 5: Reporting to Law Enforcement or the National Security Hotline. https://www1.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/ssba-guidelines-5
[4] United Nations (2004) UN Security Council Resolution 1540. https://www.un.org/disarmament/wmd/sc1540/
[5] United Nations (1970) Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). https://www.un.org/disarmament/wmd/nuclear/npt/
[6] Chemical Weapons Convention (2005) https://www.opcw.org/sites/default/files/documents/CWC/CWC_en.pdf
[7] Biological Weapons Convention (1972) https://www.un.org/disarmament/wmd/bio/
