ASIAL – A year in review
📰 Quick Take
The Australian Security Industry Association Limited (ASIAL) has released its 2025 Annual & Financial Report – and while it’s not exactly bedtime reading, it’s packed with clues about where the private security sector is heading next.
I’ve pulled together the key takeaways for security operators, consultants, and business owners who actually want to know what matters: how the association is handling money, regulation, risks, and reputation.
What ASIAL Actually Does
ASIAL is an industry body representing Australia’s private security sector. They handle:
- Certification for monitoring centres and alarm systems
- Representation in national standards committees and government consultations
- Industry advocacy for regulatory consistency and professional standards
- Education, training, and communication to keep members compliant and informed
The Money Side (Simplified from the annual report)
| Category | 2024–25 Figure (AUD) |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | 2.95 million |
| Membership Income | 1.8 million |
| Total Expenses | 2.92 million |
| Annual Surplus | 28 k |
| Net Assets / Equity | 5.97 million |
They’re operating on thin margins but steady ground by running lean while investing more in their own IT and cybersecurity systems.
Wins and Concerns
✅ Strengths
- Solid advocacy – ASIAL’s lobbying around national licensing reform is gaining traction.
- Strong presence in media and government circles.
- Genuine investment in cybersecurity and internal systems.
- Maintaining certification programs that give real, marketable value to members.
⚠️ Concerns
- The surplus is tiny, meaning a single major project could push them into the red.
- Keeping pace with AI, IoT, and cloud-based tech will require more funding and expertise.
- National licensing remains just that – a dream until the states agree.
- Membership retention depends on clear value: if ASIAL feels like “another cost,” it’ll lose support to smaller/state based associations.
National Licensing: The Big Push
ASIAL’s headline goal is a National Private Security Act – a single licence regime across Australia.
The current patchwork of state-by-state rules creates duplication, cost, and confusion for operators working across borders.
Victoria’s 2025 reforms show what’s possible:
- Unified business licensing (no more multiple registrations)
- New refresher training requirements
- Client risk assessment and record-keeping obligations
- First aid certificates for licence holders
- Stricter subcontractor controls
If the national model follows that blueprint, it could cut red tape and lift professionalism, but it’s going to take political will and industry unity to get there.
Bondi Junction Exposed the Cracks in Australia’s Security Systems
The Westfield Bondi Junction mass stabbing (April 2024) continues to shape conversations about security accountability. The inquest revealed serious lapses:
- No CCTV operator was present at the start of the attack
- Delayed alarms and emergency messaging
- Misleading evacuation instructions
- Confused communication between security, police, and medical responders
ASIAL publicly supported stronger PPE access for security staff (e.g. stab-resistant vests) and tighter emergency management standards for large venues.
Expect ripple effects across the industry: new training standards, clearer command structures, and possibly mandatory redundancy in control-room staffing.
For operators, this means one thing – liability thresholds are going up.
Why It Matters for You
- Keep an eye on licensing reform – national consistency could simplify your compliance costs overnight.
- Tighten your incident-response protocols – Bondi Junction showed how fast systems can collapse under pressure.
- Budget for training, refresher courses, and documentation – the next legislative round will likely demand it.
- Recognise ASIAL’s influence – even if you’re not a member, their lobbying shapes the compliance environment you operate in.
The Bottom Line
ASIAL’s 2025 report paints a picture of a sector in transition – tech is changing fast, regulation is tightening, and public expectations are rising.
The association’s finances are stable, but its real strength will depend on whether it can deliver national reform and help members navigate the fallout from high-profile incidents like Bondi Junction.
Security is no longer just about guards on the ground – it’s strategy, systems, and accountability.
ASIAL’s next moves will tell us whether the industry can evolve fast enough to keep pace.
You can read the full report here: https://asial.com.au/Web/Web/About-Us/Annual-Reports.aspx