4 February 2010
Queensland Senator, Russell Trood, has demanded the Government reveal why it has released detailed information about hundreds of suspected terrorists around the world.
A list of over 3000 individuals and organisations has been posted on the DFAT website revealing passport numbers, social security numbers and residential addresses of hundreds of people, some of whom are UK and EU nationals.
“National security must be a priority for any government, including Australia’s,” Senator Trood, the Chair of the Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee, said.
“Clearly, the keeping of such a list serves a very important national security function, but surely it should be kept confidential.
“The Government needs to explain why this list has been published and the compelling reasons for revealing such delicate intelligence information.
Six Canadian, 16 British, eight French and 18 US nationals are accompanied by hundreds from Iraq, Tunisia, Egypt, Morocco, Malaysia, Indonesia and Syria on the document which also lists front companies suspected of working with militant organisations including al-Qaeda and al-Shabbab.
In addition to providing personal details and security information, the list offers intimate comments about individuals, such as employment history, and if they have had plastic surgery.
“It is very likely that making this list public is highly dysfunctional in terms of national security,” Senator Trood said.
“There appears to be no good reason to have much of this information in the public domain, not least because it is highly possible that the published information could be subverted.
While some individuals and organisations listed have been convicted of involvement in terrorist activity, many appear not to have been charged with any crime.
“Given that some individuals on the list have not seem not to have a criminal record, the Australian Government should be careful about compromising our diplomatic relationships with their countries.
“Keeping such details out of the public forum might be a well-considered and simple start,” Senator Trood 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