NZ in dark over vast Australian security cordon

An Australian plan to boost coastal security with a vast surveillance net across the Tasman Sea has caught New Zealand officials on the hop.

Under plans unveiled by Prime Minister John Howard, ships destined for Australia could be intercepted once they are inside the 1000 nautical mile (1850km) security net, which stretches south of New Zealand to north of Indonesia.

Australian authorities would request ships passing through the 'investigation zone' to provide details of their journey and cargo.

Once vessels come within Australian territorial waters, which extend 12 nautical miles, they will be required to give more detail of cargo, ports visited, ship-owners, registration and destination.

Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Phil Goff was unavailable for comment.

His spokesman, James Funnell, said Mr Goff did not know about the security zone plan before yesterday.

He said Mr Goff and Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer were holding talks at Waiheke Island this weekend.

The security zone plan was not on the agenda but Mr Funnell said it "could be a topic of conversation".

Don Rothwell, a professor of international law at Sydney University, warned that Australia could face protests because the plan contravened international maritime law.

"If they are proposing to enforce this zone within the maritime zones of our adjacent neighbouring states, that would really be seen as quite a hostile act."

Professor Rothwell said many countries would view a request for information from ships within the security zone as an interference with freedom of navigation, and interceptions would be considered a fundamental breach of international law.

Mr Howard, who said the security zone would be based on co-operative arrangements, has at times tested Australia's relationship with its neighbours with his policies.

He recently caused disquiet when he reiterated that pre-emptive strikes in another country were a legitimate response to terrorist threats, and announced plans for a regional spy school in Asia.

The maritime security plan came as the Australian newspaper reported that an oil tanker was ordered to anchor off Sydney on New Year's Eve last year because authorities feared it could be used by Islamic men "acting suspiciously" in a small boat to attack celebrations.

Mr Howard said the security plan would also include increasing patrols of Australia's multibillion-dollar oil and gas reserves off the vast northwest coast and Timor Sea, where Indonesia and East Timor have interests.

"The Minister for Foreign Affairs will be writing to his counterparts to advise of our intentions to work with those countries in introducing these mutually beneficial enhanced counter-terrorism security measures."

The maritime security plan reflects the US-led Proliferation Security Initiative which aims to stop the spread of weapons of mass destruction by intercepting ships and planes.

- NZPA