THE concerns raised about the security of official documents after the closure of the Shoalhaven paper mill warrant examination.
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As the only local source of security paper – used in passports and other official documents – the mill has acted as a line of defence against identity fraud. This is a critical role, especially during our heightened terrorism environment.
The prospect of this paper now being manufactured overseas is deeply concerning, especially on the heels of Thursday’s seizure of thousands of hologram licence cards in Sydney.
If the manufacture of our specially watermarked security paper goes offshore, can we trust that some of that product won’t fall into the wrong hands? What’s to stop an employee from making off with watermarked paper to sell to forgers? If this is already being done with licence and credit cards, it seems almost inevitable false passports will prove too lucrative to be above temptation.
Surely, if the paper is made locally, where its distribution can be closely monitored, our borders will be all that more secure.
Of course, this is now a moot point as Nippon, the company that owns the Shoalhaven mill, has been forced by dwindling orders to make the hard decision to end local operations – despite its best efforts over a number of years.
We are pleased with Gilmore MP Ann Sudmalis’ undertaking to raise this concern with the government.
The loss of so many local jobs and the uncertainty that creates is just one dimension of this sorry turn of events. All efforts should be made to ensure an erosion of security does not become another cost we have to bear.