Australia: Days after the country’s defence minister declared his department would remove the devices from its premises out of concerns for security, Australian officials stated that dozens of security cameras made in China will be torn out of the offices of legislators.
According to data published this week, over 250 Australian government sites, including the facilities for the Department of Defense, had at least 913 security cameras made in China installed. Mr. Richard Marles, the Australian Defense Minister, announced last week that all of the cameras within his department’s buildings would be taken down in order to “make sure that our facilities are completely secure.”
The Department of Finance confirmed the installation of 65 additional closed-circuit television systems in Australian MPs’ offices. As part of a larger security overhaul, the department had been gradually upgrading the cameras, however, at least 40 systems still needed to be pulled out, according to the department, which added that they will be replaced by April 2023.
The department stated that the CCTV cameras were not online and were being taken down out of an abundance of caution. Similar actions have been taken in the United States and Great Britain, where government departments have been forbidden from installing cameras made in China at sensitive locations.
Similar actions have been taken in the United States and Great Britain, where government departments have been forbidden from installing cameras made in China at sensitive locations.