Dear Ministry of Defence,

I understand the Defence (Workforce) Amendment Bill was passed in Parliament to allow Defence personnel to cover striking civilian workers to ensure national security was maintained.

Could you please advise on the following:

1. Why a private security company First Security has been contracted at times to provide security services at the defence bases

2. What employment requirements are in place and what security checks are carried out for First Security employees?

3. Are First Security employees subject to the same security checks as civilian security workers?

4. Total amount spent on First Security services in the financial year 23/24, 24/25 and 25/26.

5. Where cover for security is required, whether the shifts are offered to trained civilian security guards or first security contractors first?

6. Has there been any security breaches as a result of First Security contractors.

7. What personal protection equipment First Security contractors are required to wear?

8. What personal protection equipment civilian Security Officers are required to wear?

9. Whether security risk assessments have informed the level of personal protection equipment required by First Security and civilian Security Guards.

10. Whether health and safety assessments have informed the level of personal protection equipment required by First Secuirty and civilian Security Guards?

11. Have any civilian Security Guards been injured as a result of the personal protection equipment.

Yours faithfully,

Mel