National Anti Terrorism Exercise (NATEX)

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Police Tactical Group members from different States during a NATEX in 2006

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 [1]. Australia’s national anti-terrorist arrangements are well practised with two major NATEXs held annually [2].

The program includes discussion exercises, tactical response exercises, investigation and consequence management exercises and multi-jurisdictional exercises [3]. 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 [4]. 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 [5].