on 12-09-2014 04:30 PM
As the terror alert has gone up a seperat thread is in order.
Tony Abbott announces Australian terror threat raised from ‘medium’ to ‘high’
Australia's terror threat level has been raised from medium to high, meaning a terror attack on home soil is now officially considered "likely".
The nation's outgoing spy chief ASIO Director General David Irvine says an attack could manifest itself in a "Bali-style attack, although Prime Minister Tony Abbott said on Friday that the agencies had not detected any "particular plots".
Mr Abbott expressed confidence that the authorities are "smarter than terrorists and would be terrorists," and would remain "one step ahead" of their malice.
Mr Abbott made the much anticipated announcement at a media conference with the Attorney-General George Brandis and Mr Irvine four days after the ASIO chief flagged the escalation.
Mr Abbott stressed that raising the terror threat level did not mean a terror attack was "imminent" but said it meant there are people in Australia with the "intent and capability" to carry out at terror attack.
He said it would "not make any difference to daily life" for the vast majority of Australians but it would mean "more security" at airports, ports, military bases, public buildings and large public events, including the upcoming AFL Grand Finals. But he said football fans should not be deterred from attending the games
Normal life in Australia can and must go on," he said. "We want people to go about their normal lives and we certainly want to people to enjoy the football if their teams are lucky enough to be in the grand final," he said.
Acting Australian Federal Police Commissioner Andrew Colvin said sports fans "fortunate enough" to have tickets to the grand final should still attend as police have "well worked" plans for securing major matches.
PM Tony Abbott watches as ASIO chief David Irvine explains the increase in terror threat level. Photo: Luis Ascui
"You may expect to see heightened police presence but it won't be intrusive, I'm sure," he said.
Mr Abbott also said a "modest information campaign" would begin within weeks.
Mr Irvine said the events in the Middle East over recent months had activated people at home who support the extremism propagated by ISIL militants in Iraq and Syria.
He said 60 to 70 Australians were among the 10,000 foreign fighters fighting alongside the terrorists in Iraq and Syria and some had returned home.
on 14-09-2014 01:36 PM
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-09-14/australia-to-deploy-military-force-to-uae/5742498
well, here we go again, just as predicted
on 14-09-2014 01:41 PM
on 14-09-2014 01:49 PM
@lightningdance wrote:
@polksaladallie wrote:The sole reason is to condition us into accepting ground troops being sent to Iraq in the near future.
Do you have a link that proves your statement?
Well well what a surprise. Not!
Polks - you were right on the money as many of us suspected you would be.
on 14-09-2014 01:49 PM
@*julia*2010 wrote:you said you couldn't find any information
i assumed you meant on various news sites tv etc
as i said it was on the news this morning - an early morning news report on tv
and i provided a link to just one of many news reports (from early this morning)
If it was on TV, it must be true.
Channel 2 (every) Monday night 9.19pm is a must watch for you.
14-09-2014 01:54 PM - edited 14-09-2014 01:55 PM
@the_great_she_elephant wrote:I wonder how much media coverage this will get.
Looks like this story just got dumped off the headlines at Fairfax now that Abbott has made his announcement that we are now officially part of the military strategy against IS.
So back to (an invisible) square one for the Muslim community in Australia.
on 14-09-2014 01:55 PM
@i-need-a-martini wrote:
@lightningdance wrote:
@polksaladallie wrote:The sole reason is to condition us into accepting ground troops being sent to Iraq in the near future.
Do you have a link that proves your statement?
Well well what a surprise. Not!
Polks - you were right on the money as many of us suspected you would be.
Should I expect an apology?
I'd prefer a secret money prize. That way no-one will lose face. My address is PO Box .........
on 14-09-2014 01:59 PM
@polksaladallie wrote:
@*julia*2010 wrote:you said you couldn't find any information
i assumed you meant on various news sites tv etc
as i said it was on the news this morning - an early morning news report on tv
and i provided a link to just one of many news reports (from early this morning)
If it was on TV, it must be true.
Of course not!!
i was responding to a comment by a poster
who said they could not find any information
on it.
Channel 2 (every) Monday night 9.19pm is a must watch for you.
isn't that on TV?
14-09-2014 02:01 PM - edited 14-09-2014 02:02 PM
Yes, that is your God, so you must believe.
Or watch it online.
on 14-09-2014 02:08 PM
@polksaladallie wrote:Yes, that is your God, so you must believe.
Or watch it online.
no thanks i dont believe in the tv god
(no offence)
on 14-09-2014 02:09 PM
ASIO said no specific threat when the terror threat level was raised. But they clearly knew Abbott was about to announce a military deployment