National Security
Dammed if you DO and Dammed if you DON’T
T By Fraser Duff
16 | Australian Security Magazine
here are many questions being asked by Senior Council acting for the Dawson family as part of the Coronial inquest into the Lindt Café Siege, and understandably so. Police operations have never been more under the microscope. There is almost daily reporting in the media into the Police decisions, actions and operational capability on that fateful night in December 2014. The actions of the NSW Police on that evening have evoked strong public opinion and the Police situation is almost one of; damned if you do, and damned if you don’t. Perhaps one way to reduce the risks associated with such a loss of public faith would be to revisit who and how incidents of this nature can best be dealt with. In doing so, we need to revisit ALL possible resources and methods of operation objectively. A debate as to whether terrorist incidents should remain under the control of Police or whether future Military involvement needs to be considered and evaluated? This question raises some big issues. Specifically, whether Australia has the stomach for a military intervention on home soil and whether our risk averse culture hinders this type of commitment and resolution going forward? Before exploring this question, I might first suggest that we not lose sight of the bravery of a small group of Police officers from the tactical operations unit (TOU). Above all else, these officers risked their lives. They were also severely affected by the decisions and actions of the ‘Police Operational Command’. It was these officers who had to come in off the back foot, behind the eight ball in an
Emergency Action and engage a man committed to mayhem and murder. They are the bravest of souls and we can only ever be grateful for their service. Leigh Sales on the 7.30 report recently asked the Premier Mike Baird (24th August 2016) a very challenging question about the siege. Leigh asked, “If your son was one of the hostages in the café that night, would you be happy with how the Police resolved the incident”? The Premier didn’t answer the question. It’s perhaps his absence of an answer that provides some insight into current community and public sentiment. The answer for any parent who had a loved one in such dire circumstances and facing possible execution would be a resounding NO. The Premiers attempt to then shed light on how operational equipment experienced failings on the night including; night vision goggles, communication systems and the command truck, fall well short of the mark. We don’t want an incident as significant as this to have the lessons learnt reduced to such a low level as 'equipment failings'. There are far greater issues, much higher up the food chain. The Commissioner Mr. Scipioni and Deputy Commissioner Catherine Burn have been ducking for cover, distancing themselves from any of the decision making or operational command of the terrorist incident. These are the Captains who will not go down with the ship. In fact they are already in the lifeboats, while public confidence dwindles over the handling of the incident. What message does their behaviour now send to the Police who may be called upon to command an incident tomorrow?