‘Rogue’ climate change agency stands firm over Chinese-made cameras

One of Australia’s climate change and energy agencies has not removed Chinese-made surveillance cameras from its facilities.

A Hikvision camera on the ABC building in Ultimo. Surveillance equipment built by companies linked to the Chinese government are being ripped out of the ABC after they were uncovered across three sites. Picture: NCA NewsWire

One of Australia’s climate change and energy agencies ignored the example set by the Department of Defence and has not removed Chinese-made surveillance cameras from its facilities.

The news comes two months after it was revealed about 1000 devices manufactured by Chinese companies HikVision and Dahua had been installed at government facilities around Australia, including defence force bases and parliamentary electorate offices.

Other agencies followed the lead of Defence and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and began ripping them out, after they were identified through an audit sparked by opposition cyber security spokesman Senator James Paterson.

It was later revealed the cameras had been installed at the ABC, the Tasmanian parliament and many local council offices, leading to calls for the cameras and other surveillance devices, which have been black-listed in the US, to be removed.

Despite the majority of federal agencies deciding to purge the cameras, one agency in the

Department of Climate Change and Energy stood firm.

Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Gary Ramage

“HikVision and/or Dahua devices have been identified as installed at facilities of some agencies within the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water portfolio,’’ a response from Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen, sent via Senator Penny Wong, advised Senator Paterson in answers to his follow-up questions.

“All of these agencies except one, intend to replace or remove the devices between March and September 2023. Completion dates are subject to procurement, supply, and installation of the replacement devices.

“One agency has already commenced removal.

“One agency has indicated they may not remove devices that are not networked or connected to the internet and considered low risk.’’

Cyber experts have said even non-networked cameras pose a risk as they have to be connected to the internet to set them up, or to install updates.

The concerns around the devices relate mainly to the fact companies headquartered in China are subject to national security laws requiring them to hand over data to Beijing’s intelligence agencies.

There are also moral and ethical questions surrounding them due to their use in surveilling the oppressed Uighur communities in China’s Xinjiang province.

“It is concerning that we have a rogue agency that thinks they know better than the Ministers for Defence and Foreign Affairs, who have ordered the urgent removal of these cameras from their departments,’’ Senator Paterson said.

Senator James Paterson Picture:. Aaron Francis/The Australian

“The Prime Minister should haul them into line and demand they follow the government’s edict that all HikVision and Dahua surveillance devices be removed.’’

Twenty-four hours after The Australian contacted Mr Bowen’s office about why the devices had not been removed, the department had a change of heart and issued a follow-up statement.

“All agencies within the portfolio have now confirmed they intend to replace or remove the devices by September 2023,’’ the department spokesman said. “Completion dates are subject to procurement, supply and installation of replacement devices.’’

The government is weighing up whether to issue a formal ban on the devices across all government facilities. If such a decision was made, an instruction would be issued by Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus via an update under Australia’s Protective Security Policy Framework. Mr Dreyfus is thought to have received security advice from intelligence agencies including ASIO to inform his deliberations.

The government has been heavily focused in recent weeks on whether to follow the US and issue a ban on using the Chinese-owned social media platform TikTok on government devices.