On 3 February 2012, the Attorney‑General’s Department released a Consultation Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) examining options to improve security arrangements for businesses that handle chemicals that can be used to make homemade explosives. The RIS identifies eleven chemicals that can be legitimately purchased from Australian businesses and used in homemade explosives for terrorist or criminal purposes. The Attorney General’s Department in cooperation with other government stakeholders and industry have identified a comprehensive range of measures that can be adopted by businesses to address security vulnerabilities in handling these chemicals - such as employee awareness of security risks and stock control. The RIS examines options to encourage businesses to adopt these measures, which include:
- an awareness campaign, encouraging businesses to voluntarily adopt the measures;
- industry associations to voluntarily incorporate the measures into new or existing codes of practice;
- government to develop a code of practice, that could be adopted voluntarily by businesses; and
- government to develop a code of practice, with mandatory compliance on businesses.
The Attorney-General’s Department is seeking submissions until 30 March 2012. The Office of Best Practice Regulation has assessed the Consultation RIS as adequate.
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