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Border Security contract exposed

A contract between Seven & Australian Border Force has been revealed under Freedom of Information.

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Details of a contract between Seven Network and Australian Border Force on arrangements for Border Security have been published by Guardian Australia, under the freedom of information act.

It reveals the Immigration Department has approval of each episode, which must be signed off before broadcast.

If the department has any concerns there will be a conference call. If changes are required Seven recuts the footage. The Department can use the vision under a “permanent, irrevocable, royalty-free, worldwide, non-exclusive licence (include a right to sublicense to use and reproduce vision).”

Most content can be kept in Seven’s office “in a locked room or cupboard”. Security clearance is required for staff on the show.

Seven is also required to store sensitive information about Australian Federal Police operations “at a higher level of security”. For this material not one but two locks are required.

“As a minimum this must involve storage in a locked container, within a locked room, within a locked Network Seven building,” the deed says. Only two members of staff may access it.

Seven maintained that the mechanics of the show were of no interest to viewers and also objected to some of the information being released as commercial in confidence.

A Seven Network spokesman said: “Seven retains editorial control of the program. The Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) approvals are there to protect ongoing investigations, to update information in the case of developments and to guard against methodology being shown which might compromise a future investigation.”

You can read more here.

Border Security: Deed of Agreement

9 Responses

  2. Is that a real sign?

    I’m surprised that they can get away with such a sign, instead of release forms, especially when a lot of people in customs won’t speak English. And presumably asking not to be filmed gets you a mandatory strip search by Customs, something else that would be legally problematic.

    Might explain why all the idiots allow Seven to profit from their life going down the toilet.

    1. Yes. The onus should not be on individuals saying “No.” It should be on saying “Yes.” For those who don’t read English well, after along haul flight, it is disappointing they are so poorly informed. Many would presume these are Customs cameras, not a commercial TV network.

      1. Agree. This is the only issue I have with this arrangement. Not only are people potentially tired and/or stressed after a long flight but some of them come from countries where the govt exerts a lot more control over people’s lives than here.

        It is not unreasonable for them to at least wonder whether asking to not be filmed might lead to a negative outcome for them.

    3. It’s a real sign. I’ve seen it at the airport when the cameras were two aisles away from me. I’m sure it’s mainly to protect straying husbands/wives, ppl having a sickie etc

  3. I wonder how they go about storing wild footage digital media files that normally sit on a network or hard drive in an edit suite in a locked container in a locked cupboard.

  4. Although I don’t watch this show, I think you need a contract like this, and where Border Security have control over what goes to air. Pending further investigations and prosecutions, not giving away too much of how they are able (or not able) to work out who is carrying contraband or coming in to the country illegally, you don’t want to teach the audience how to get around Border security. I am sure that is why that is in place. Also they want to make sure they are protecting the innocent, if after filming, it turns out that the person is in the right. I don’t think you can have a standard contract when you are broadcasting sensitive information.

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