New Counter Terrorism Control Centre
The Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Attorney-General Robert McClelland have officially opened the Australian Government’s Counter Terrorism Control Centre (CTCC).
The CTCC will play a lead role in strengthening the coordination of Australia’s counter-terrorism intelligence efforts by setting and managing counter-terrorism priorities, identifying intelligence requirements and ensuring that the process of collecting and distributing intelligence is fully integrated.
The new facility will strengthen Australia’s national security capability by improving our ability to prepare for and respond to significant national and international threats.
The centre will be hosted by the Australian Security and Intelligence Organisation with representatives from Australia’s key security, intelligence and law enforcement agencies including the Australian Federal Police, the Australian Secret Intelligence Service and the Defence Signals Directorate.
The failed attack last Christmas on Northwest Airlines flight 253 demonstrated the need for our national security agencies to operate seamlessly in sharing information and intelligence to combat terrorism and other national security threats.
The creation of the CTCC was a key recommendation of the Government’s Counter-Terrorism White Paper, which noted that Australia remains a key terrorist target, with prominent terrorists and extremists encouraging attacks on Australia both before and after 11 September 2001.
By providing a flexible and focused counter-terrorism capability, the CTCC represents a significant advance in Australia’s national security arrangements.
Michael Danby
Michael Danby MP, Federal Member for Melbourne Ports, strongly endorsed the launch.
“The launch of this Centre by the Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Attorney-General Robert McClelland indicates the seriousness at which this Government takes the threat of terrorism in not only our region but across the world. I welcome the launch of the Counter-Terrorism Control Centre to advance Australia’s national security arrangements.” Mr Danby said.
Mr Danby, asking a question on this matter in Question Time yesterday, to the Attorney General Robert McClelland, said the move would provide greater coordination of Australia’s counter-terrorism intelligence efforts and strengthen the combined capability of our intelligence and law enforcement agencies. He said that it was extremely noteworthy that Mr David Irvine the Director General of ASIO had told that launch that ASIO was pursuing hundreds of cases of potential local threats.
“We only have to look at recent events, from last years foiled attack in December in America, to the Marriot Hotel Bombing in Jakarta, the Mumbai Terror attacks and the 2002 Bali Bombings to see that terrorism is a real and potential threat to our region and the world,” Mr Danby said.
“The need for intelligence agencies to share information more fluidly and effectively on terrorist methods, their intentions and individuals suspected of terrorist planning resulted in the creation of this centre. It is a significant step towards strengthening the ongoing partnership within the counter-terrorism community.” Mr Danby concluded and added the fact that both the Prime Minister and Attorney General were present indicates the seriousness with which the Government views these issues.
Michael Danby pointed out that the Federal Government had proscribed 12 organisations as terrorist groups, including Hamas, Hezbollah and Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
