Explanation
Ministerial overseas travel – outcomes report
Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Minister for Bushfire Response, Kim Wells
The contact person for this report is Penny Croser, telephone number 03 8684 1041.
The Minister was accompanied by his Chief of Staff, Glenn Corey. He visited Turkey and Israel from 5 to 16 September 2013, a total of 12 official travel days.
The funding for this trip was paid by the Department of Justice and the Police Minister’s Office.
Travel and personal expenses
§ air fares $14,437.04
§ accommodation $8,969.73
§ other expenses $5,816.66
Total costs for minister and staff (final and complete) $29,223.43
Purpose of travel - aims and objectives
§ Attendance at the International Institute of Counter Terrorism, 13th International Conference, Herzliya, Israel.
§ Meetings with key Israeli diplomats, business and community leaders.
§ Enhancing Victoria’s reputation and leadership in policing and emergency management.
§ Advancing knowledge for Victoria in relation to world’s best practice in policing, emergency management and counter terrorism measures and response.
§ Meetings with business, police and emergency management sectors to discuss areas of mutual interest and opportunities in the utilisation of innovative and leading edge technologies.
Benefits of travel to the State of Victoria
Attendance at the International Institute of Counter Terrorism, 13th International Conference, Herzliya, Israel, in September 2013, provided a unique insight into dealing with extreme and recurrent external and internal terrorism in one of the more challenging regions of the world.
The focus of the summit was to learn from internationally renowned experts about the global impact of terrorism and reflect on Israel’s experiences as a leader in disaster planning.
Presentations of particular note were provided by the Minister for Defence, Lt. Gen. (Ret.) MK Moshe “Bogie” Ya’alon and Minister for International Relations, Intelligence and Strategic Affairs, MK Dr Yuval Steinitz.
Conference speakers placed particular focus on ensuring that any response to internal and external terrorist events must be prompt, but must also be undertaken in a considered, measured and targeted manner, supported by intelligence and the rule of law.
From a Victorian perspective, an important message taken from the Conference is that there is a continuing ever- present threat from home-grown terrorism that requires robust intelligence gathering by state and federal law enforcement authorities and working with communities to foster greater understanding and tolerance of all cultures and religions with the aim of reducing fundamentalist radicalism.
There was also an emphasis at the Conference on targeted law enforcement initiatives to follow the money trail and cut off funding to terrorist organisations. This is particularly relevant since similar measures can also be adopted to fight organised crime including outlaw motor cycle gangs in Victoria and across Australia.
Meetings with local law enforcement authorities and visits to towns close to the contested regions of the Gaza Strip and the Golan Heights (on the northern border with Syria) provided insight into the challenges faced in these areas.
Israel is emerging as an incubator of world leading technologies, particularly in innovative IT and advanced manufacturing, many of which have flowed from the nation’s extensive and capable defence industries.
Meetings with a number of Israel’s leading experts in police and emergency management, from business and government, provided knowledge and introductions to leading edge and emerging technologies which may have particular application to Victoria Police and the State’s emergency services agencies in future.
To maintain world class service delivery, advanced technologies in a range of areas will be required by our police and emergency services in coming years and a number of particular products and services discussed with Israeli businesses and government leaders could greatly assist Victoria. Further investigations by Victoria Police and our emergency management agencies into how the technologies may be best applied will be necessary.
A notable benefit of the trip was further enhancement of the special relationship between Victoria and Israel resulting from an ongoing mutual admiration and respect for Victoria’s and Australia’s role as a welcoming haven to Jewish people, particularly from Europe, pre and post World War Two. This relationship has been formally recognised by the Victorian Government through the Victoria-Israel Science Innovation and Technology Scheme (VISITS), which was initiated earlier this year to promote collaboration on projects of mutual benefit to Israel and Victoria.
Fostering a continuing close and respectful relationship with Israel recognises the tremendous contribution that the Victorian Jewish community makes to the State of Victoria though its economic, social and cultural endeavours.
Meetings were held with a number of local dignitaries and government officials including the recently appointed Australian Ambassador to Israel, Mr Dave Sharma and Israel’s newly announced Ambassador to Australia, Mr Shmuel Ben-Shmuel, who has since commenced his role in Canberra. A visit to Yad Vashem, Israel’s national holocaust museum, and a tour of Magen David Adom’s ambulance control centre in Tel Aviv also reinforced the significance of Victoria’s special relationship with Israel. Such meetings and discussions are important in ensuring greater knowledge of Victoria’s proud history and its continuing role as a successful multicultural society that has been built on mutual respect and tolerance.
The delegation maximised the short layover in Istanbul on the way to Israel by meeting with the Australian Consul-General and Trade Commissioner for Turkey, Mr Lino Strangis, to discuss the important relationship between Victoria and Turkey.
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