Australia Equips States, Territories With WMD Protective and Decontamination Gear

Australia has completed its program to equip its states and territories with protective and decontamination equipment for use in case of a chemical, biological or radiological attack, the Australian Associated Press reported today (see GSN, Nov. 19, 2004).

A $13.7 million federal program provided localities with protective suits, DNA testing units, mass casualty decontamination tests and other gear, according to AAP.

“We haven’t faced the real thing but we are very much aware that we have been targeted and we need to be alert to the range of possibilities that we might have to deal with,” said Attorney General Philip Ruddock.

“We now have a very credible chemical, biological and radiological response capability in the [Australian Capital Territory], and of course this applies across the other states and territories,” said ACT Emergency Services Commissioner Peter Dunn (Australian Associated Press, Jan. 21).

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