National Anti Terrorism Exercise (NATEX)

National Anti Terrorism Exercises (NATEXs) also known as National Counter Terrorism Exercises (NCTE) are an exercise program involving the Australian Federal Government and all States and Territories [http://www.nationalsecurity.gov.au/agd/www/nationalsecurity.nsf/AllDocs/9EDD156E9DA7C75FCA25716F000C9401?OpenDocument] . Australia’s national anti-terrorist arrangements are well practised with two major NATEXs held annually [http://www.ausport.gov.au/fulltext/2001/pmc/sydney_2000_games.asp] .

The program includes discussion exercises, tactical response exercises, investigation and consequence management exercises and multi-jurisdictional exercises [http://www.ag.gov.au/www/agd/agd.nsf/Page/Nationalsecurity_Counter-terrorism_Counter-terrorismcoordination] . Such incidents practised include recapturing buildings, freeing hostages, cordoning off areas or responding to a chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear or explosive attack .

NATEX exercises of various types are run and tested several times per year testing various elements of the Australian Defence Force such as the Tactical Assault Group (West & East), Special Operations Command (Australia) and Incident Response Regiment.Exercises involve various elements of State/Territory Police Forces such as their respective Police Tactical Group and various intelligence agencies and units such as ASIO [http://www.defence.gov.au/terrorism/] . As well as involving various elements of the Federal Government exercises also test the capability, co-ordination and response of the State/Territory Government, State Emergency Services, the Commonwealth Attorney-General’s Department, the Australian Defence Force, the Australian Federal Police and other Commonwealth agencies.

Exercises are tailored to prepare for specific events such as the 2000 Sydney Olympic games, 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games and the 2007 Sydney APEC forum [http://www.theage.com.au/news/war-on-terror/mercury-rises-in-games-mock-terror-threat/2005/10/21/1129775962085.html] .

ee also

* Police Tactical Group
* Special Operations Command (Australia)
* Tactical Assault Group
* Australian Special Air Service Regiment
* Counter-terrorism

Relevant Units

* Australian Defence Force - Tactical Assault Group, Incident Response Regiment
* Police Tactical Group
* Australian Federal Police - Specialist Response and Security Team
* flag|New South Wales - Tactical Operations Unit
* flag|Northern Territory - Territory Response Group
* flag|Queensland - Special Emergency Response Team
* flag|South Australia - Special Tasks and Rescue Group
* flag|Tasmania - Special Operations Group
* flag|Victoria - Special Operations Group
* flag|Western Australia - Tactical Response Group
* flag|New Zealand - Armed Offenders Squad, Special Tactics Group

External links

* [http://www.ag.gov.au/agd/WWW/justiceministerHome.nsf/Page/Media_Releases_2005_4th_Quarter_20_October_2005_-_Mercury_05_reinforces_Australias_preparedness_for_terror_threat Mercury 05 NATEX]
* [http://www.abc.net.au/centralvic/stories/s1483722.htm Mercury 05]
* [http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,20451130-5001021,00.html Blue Luminary 06 NATEX]
* [http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2006/06/13/1661495.htm WA exercise to test anti-terrorism responsiveness]
* [http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2003/09/28/955109.htm Defence force stages anti-terrorism exercise]
* [http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/03/22/1079939584278.html Nation's ability to respond to terrorism put to the test]
* [http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/black-hawks-buzz-the-bay/2005/10/10/1128796441417.html Black Hawks buzz the Bay]