Police, army ready for CHOGM

BY SEAN HEALY

Queensland and federal police and the Australian Defence Force are readying for one of their largest-ever domestic operations: to protect the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, which is being held in Brisbane in October.

More than 1000 security personnel conducted three days of "counter-terrorist" exercises in Brisbane from June 13, in an operation dubbed "Operation Noble Act".

While some publicised exercises concentrated on dealing with suicide bombers, it is also likely that they were drilled in crowd control measures.

Up to 1600 soldiers will also be deployed in Brisbane during the CHOGM summit, the ADF revealed in May. Their deployment is now legal, under legislation passed before the Olympics allowing military personnel to take part in domestic security operations.

Queensland Labor Premier Peter Beattie has warned that his officers will take a hard line during CHOGM. Any protesters attempting to blockade the CHOGM summit at the Convention Centre on Southbank will be arrested, he threatened.

From GLW issue 453