High Tech Top End Surveillance Too Little Too Late

Member for Lingiari and Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Northern Australia and Indigenous Affairs Warren Snowdon said Federal Customs Minister Senator Ellison's announcement of a surveillance helicopter for the Top End was too little, too late and Involved a long wait.

Mr Snowdon said the announcement raised more questions about the fight against illegal activity in our waters than it answered.

'There's no doubt that having a helicopter permanently based in the Top End will be a boost to the interagency effort,' he said.

'At the same time, we need some answers to what the Minister isn't saying.

'The announcement is premature and we should know what the government is going to do in the 12 months we'll be waiting for the helicopter to start work.

'And it's time the government came up with a detailed plan of how it proposes to up the involvement of the Top End's Indigenous ranger groups.

'They've been giving the country their services for CDEP wages and without the proper resources.

'What they've proved time and time again is the value of involving people who know their own country intimately in keeping an eye out for all kinds of illegal activity.

'Customs is already running a pilot program with Maningrida's Djelk Rangers and Fisheries is working with Indigenous rangers in Queensland and WA.

'Early indications are that these will show how well the agencies and the ranger groups can work together.

'So what's stopping the Government from planning now to formalise the relationship and give Indigenous rangers real jobs and the proper resources to do the work?.

'There's no doubt we need to mount hi-tech surveillance, but it's an expensive effort if that's all we've got.

'We won't win the fight without the help of people who truly care for their country and at a fraction of the annual running costs of a helicopter, they're a cost-effective option we can't do without,' Mr Snowdon said.

2007-02-01