CANBERRA – Australia will remove Chinese-made surveillance cameras from defence sites over national security fears.
It comes after an audit found 900 pieces of surveillance equipment built by companies Hikvision and Dahua on government estates.
The UK and US made similar moves last year, citing fears the device data may be accessed by the Chinese government.
Hikvision says those fears are unfounded. Dahua has not responded to a request for comment.
The audit of Australian government sites found the cameras and security gear were located on more than 200 buildings, in almost every department – including the foreign affairs and attorney general’s departments.
At least one unit was also found in the defence department, but the total number at defence sites is unknown.
Defence Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles on Thursday said the government would find and remove the cameras from any defence locations to make them “completely secure”.
“I don’t think we should overstate [the seriousness]… but it’s a significant thing that’s been brought to our attention and we’re going to fix it,” he said, adding the devices pre-dated his time in office.
Attorney General Mark Dreyfus said the government will review whether the cameras on other government buildings need to be removed as well.
Shadow Minister for Cyber Security James Paterson, who requested the audit, says they do.
Australia has “no way” of knowing whether data collected by the devices is being handed over to Chinese intelligence agencies, he said.
China’s national security law can be used to compel any organisation or citizen to “support, assist and co-operate with the state intelligence work”. (BBC)
