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You Know Things Ain't Good When Kim Beazley Agrees with John Howard
Attack being planned in Australia: PM
Wednesday Nov 2 13:30 AEST
Australian intelligence authorities have received specific information about a terrorist threat in Australia, Prime Minister John Howard says.
Mr Howard refused to give details of the threat, saying the Australian public would never forgive him if he wrecked any police operation to stop it.
Australia's general terrorism threat level will remain unchanged, despite the information.
But Mr Howard will rush an urgent amendment to anti-terrorism laws into parliament which he says will strengthen the capacity of law enforcement agencies to protect Australians.
The government has received specific intelligence and police information this week which gives cause for serious concern about a potential terrorist threat," he told reporters in Canberra.
"We have seen material. It is a cause of concern.
"We have been given advice that if this amendment is enacted as soon as possible the capacity of the authorities to respond will be strengthened.
"And I am satisfied on what I have been told, and the government and the national security ministers in cabinet are satisfied, that that is the case but I do not intend and cannot and will not go into any of the operational details."
All state premiers and the federal opposition have agreed to support the changes, which will be rushed through parliament on Wednesday night and Thursday in a special Senate sitting.
Mr Howard said he understood that people would be frustrated that he could not reveal any details, including which city might be targeted.
But he said he was damned if he did and damned if he didn't.
"If you go into a lot of detail and you wreck the operation, the Australian public will not forgive you," he said.
"In those situations, I have no alternative but to say to my fellow Australians we have received information, we have been told by the authorities that their capacity to deal with it will be strengthened by this change to the law.
"I'm asking the Australian public and the Australian parliament to accept that we are acting in a bona fide way to do the right thing by the country."
Mr Howard said if he went into any more detail, he might weaken the capacity of authorities to respond.
Opposition Leader Kim Beazley, who was extensively briefed on the threat, said Labor was prepared to pass the amendment on Wednesday night if necessary.
Mr Beazley said the information he had been given was highly specific and detailed, but refused to go into details.
"The prime minister describes it as urgent, because of the intelligence that has been presented to him," he told reporters.
The amendment to the Anti-Terrorism Bill will replace the word "the" with "a" in the definition of a terrorism offence, to clarify that it is not necessary to identify a particular terrorist act.
Instead, it will be enough for the prosecution to prove that the particular conduct was related to "a" terrorist act.
Attorney-General Philip Ruddock will introduce the amendment after Question Time on Wednesday afternoon.
Mr Howard said he had not yet received any information that would require a change in the general terror threat level for Australia.
But he said Australians should know all was being done to protect their safety.
"I ask my fellow Australians to understand that we are doing everything we can in a difficult situation to protect the public," he said.
Mr Beazley said his party would support the new laws, which would be urgently introduced into parliament on Wednesday afternoon.
Mr Howard has fully briefed Mr Beazley on the threat but the Labor leader refused to reveal any more detail.
However, he said his party would back the bill.
"The prime minister describes it as urgent because of the circumstances that have been presented to him by the intelligence agencies and the other agencies who are briefing him on these matters," Mr Beazley told reporters.
"They have to make judgments about whether or not they need this bill now.
"All I say is this; if it is particularly urgent then we ought to stand ready to pass it immediately.
"So our Senators are available to make the passage of this legislation immediately."
Courtesy of National Nine News
Few weeks ago, an al Qaeda operative threatened new attacks against cities in the U.S. and Australia.
"Yesterday, London and Madrid. Tomorrow, Los Angeles and Melbourne, Allah willing. And this time, don't count on us demonstrating restraint or compassion," the tape warned.
Today, John Howard revealed that he has just received reliable and specific information about a terrorist threat targeting Australia.
Do ya all think they'll shut down the airport before next Tuesday?
I might not have to sit for the exam after all.
Just a thought. :/
Mr Howard refused to give details of the threat, saying the Australian public would never forgive him if he wrecked any police operation to stop it.
Australia's general terrorism threat level will remain unchanged, despite the information.
But Mr Howard will rush an urgent amendment to anti-terrorism laws into parliament which he says will strengthen the capacity of law enforcement agencies to protect Australians.
The government has received specific intelligence and police information this week which gives cause for serious concern about a potential terrorist threat," he told reporters in Canberra.
"We have seen material. It is a cause of concern.
"We have been given advice that if this amendment is enacted as soon as possible the capacity of the authorities to respond will be strengthened.
"And I am satisfied on what I have been told, and the government and the national security ministers in cabinet are satisfied, that that is the case but I do not intend and cannot and will not go into any of the operational details."
All state premiers and the federal opposition have agreed to support the changes, which will be rushed through parliament on Wednesday night and Thursday in a special Senate sitting.
Mr Howard said he understood that people would be frustrated that he could not reveal any details, including which city might be targeted.
But he said he was damned if he did and damned if he didn't.
"If you go into a lot of detail and you wreck the operation, the Australian public will not forgive you," he said.
"In those situations, I have no alternative but to say to my fellow Australians we have received information, we have been told by the authorities that their capacity to deal with it will be strengthened by this change to the law.
"I'm asking the Australian public and the Australian parliament to accept that we are acting in a bona fide way to do the right thing by the country."
Mr Howard said if he went into any more detail, he might weaken the capacity of authorities to respond.
Opposition Leader Kim Beazley, who was extensively briefed on the threat, said Labor was prepared to pass the amendment on Wednesday night if necessary.
Mr Beazley said the information he had been given was highly specific and detailed, but refused to go into details.
"The prime minister describes it as urgent, because of the intelligence that has been presented to him," he told reporters.
The amendment to the Anti-Terrorism Bill will replace the word "the" with "a" in the definition of a terrorism offence, to clarify that it is not necessary to identify a particular terrorist act.
Instead, it will be enough for the prosecution to prove that the particular conduct was related to "a" terrorist act.
Attorney-General Philip Ruddock will introduce the amendment after Question Time on Wednesday afternoon.
Mr Howard said he had not yet received any information that would require a change in the general terror threat level for Australia.
But he said Australians should know all was being done to protect their safety.
"I ask my fellow Australians to understand that we are doing everything we can in a difficult situation to protect the public," he said.
Mr Beazley said his party would support the new laws, which would be urgently introduced into parliament on Wednesday afternoon.
Mr Howard has fully briefed Mr Beazley on the threat but the Labor leader refused to reveal any more detail.
However, he said his party would back the bill.
"The prime minister describes it as urgent because of the circumstances that have been presented to him by the intelligence agencies and the other agencies who are briefing him on these matters," Mr Beazley told reporters.
"They have to make judgments about whether or not they need this bill now.
"All I say is this; if it is particularly urgent then we ought to stand ready to pass it immediately.
"So our Senators are available to make the passage of this legislation immediately."
Courtesy of National Nine News
Few weeks ago, an al Qaeda operative threatened new attacks against cities in the U.S. and Australia.
"Yesterday, London and Madrid. Tomorrow, Los Angeles and Melbourne, Allah willing. And this time, don't count on us demonstrating restraint or compassion," the tape warned.
Today, John Howard revealed that he has just received reliable and specific information about a terrorist threat targeting Australia.
Do ya all think they'll shut down the airport before next Tuesday?
I might not have to sit for the exam after all.
Just a thought. :/
