Almost a year and a half since it was promised, the Rudd Government’s Counter-Terrorism White Paper is still nowhere to be seen, and the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet is still unsure when it will be able to provide a date for its release.
As the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet faced a Senate inquiry late last night, Queensland Senator, Russell Trood, demanded that the Rudd Government stop procrastinating on terrorism.
“A Counter-Terrorism White Paper would be crucial in outlining what, if anything, is informing the Rudd Government’s counter-terrorism policy.”
“It is worrying to think that after more than two years since it was elected, this Labor Government’s foreign policy is still premised on a national security architecture that is not designed to deal with such an enormous and complex problem,” Senator Trood said.
The Prime Minister first commissioned the Counter-Terrorism White Paper after the terrorist attacks in Mumbai in November 2008, and on a number of occasions, publicly promised its delivery by the end of 2009. However, there is still no sign of the White Paper, and Senator Trood is concerned about the Government’s priorities.
The Senator said that the Government must stop acting as if a careful, effective and well-resourced campaign to counter regional terrorism will miraculously develop itself.
“I simply do not see how any meaningful progress on combating terrorism can be made while the Government continues to be complacent on releasing this important document,” the Senator concluded.
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Anastasia Glushko
Media Adviser, The Office of Senator Russell Trood
Senator for Queensland, Mobile: 0406 156 730 Phone: 07 3372 4555 Fax: 07 3372 4544
In Canberra: Phone: 02 6277 3637, Fax: 02 6277 5766
Email:anastasia.glushko@aph.gov.au