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PM warns of 'specific' terror threat
Prime Minister John Howard says the Federal Government has received specific intelligence about a potential terrorist threat in Australia.
At a press conference, Mr Howard would not give further details, citing operational security reasons.
"The Government has received specific intelligence from police information this week, which gives cause for serious concern about a potential terrorist threat," Mr Howard told reporters.
"I do not intend, and can not, go into any of the operational details. We have seen material, it is a cause for concern."
Mr Howard says the Senate will be recalled tomorrow to pass an amendment relating to the description of a terrorist act.
He says the amendment to existing counter-terrorism laws would allow authorities to deal with the threat.
He says the amendment will be introduced to the House of Representatives this afternoon after Question Time.
The amendment is separate from the Government's proposed counter-terrorism legislation that Mr Howard says will be introduced to the Parliament soon.
Mr Howard says the specific terrorist threat became known recently but he has refused to detail the information.
"All the detail of this information has been provided by me and the Attorney-General, to the Leader of the Opposition, and to the shadow minister for homeland security," he said.
The announcement from Mr Howard came as ASIO in its annual report publicly outlined the threats to Australia.
ASIO says that some of the extremists it has been investigating were born in Australia.
Prime Minister John Howard says the Federal Government has received specific intelligence about a potential terrorist threat in Australia.
At a press conference, Mr Howard would not give further details, citing operational security reasons.
"The Government has received specific intelligence from police information this week, which gives cause for serious concern about a potential terrorist threat," Mr Howard told reporters.
"I do not intend, and can not, go into any of the operational details. We have seen material, it is a cause for concern."
Mr Howard says the Senate will be recalled tomorrow to pass an amendment relating to the description of a terrorist act.
He says the amendment to existing counter-terrorism laws would allow authorities to deal with the threat.
He says the amendment will be introduced to the House of Representatives this afternoon after Question Time.
The amendment is separate from the Government's proposed counter-terrorism legislation that Mr Howard says will be introduced to the Parliament soon.
Mr Howard says the specific terrorist threat became known recently but he has refused to detail the information.
"All the detail of this information has been provided by me and the Attorney-General, to the Leader of the Opposition, and to the shadow minister for homeland security," he said.
The announcement from Mr Howard came as ASIO in its annual report publicly outlined the threats to Australia.
ASIO says that some of the extremists it has been investigating were born in Australia.