Posted on February 23, 2010
The Rudd Government’s counter-terrorism white paper reveals little we didn’t already know and is alarmingly thin on strategic detail, the Chair of the Senate References Committee for Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade, Senator Russell Trood, said today.
“This is an announcement masked as policy, a completely underwhelming piece of work,” Senator Trood said.
“It rehearses many of the policies already in place, and includes very few initiatives to reinforce Australia’s counter-terrorism capability.”
“But the greatest failing of this white paper is the disconnect between the threat from home-grown terrorism and the proposed policy solutions to this problem.”
The white paper argues that the increase in home grown terrorism is one of the most significant strategic developments since the last white paper.
“The important question, as to how we can tackle this threat, is left unanswered. The paper provides no coherent counter-radicalisation strategies and allocates no funds to the task.”
“The focus should be on developing programs that will prevent radical activity: forming closer links with local police forces and Islamic communities around the country; developing localised education and awareness programs, and intervening to combat online extremism, might be considered.”
“Instead, the Government’s solution is to create an intelligence control centre in Canberra within an organisation which is already responsible for coordinating intelligence.
This is hardly imaginative policy.”
-ends-
Media Contact:
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