ASIO raises terror threat level in Australia

Australia’s terror threat level has been raised from possible to probable because of deteriorating social cohesion, the Prime Minister announced on Monday.

Security agency ASIO advised the government that the terror threat level needed to rise because the “security environment is more volatile and more unpredictable.”

“I want to reassure Australians probable does not mean inevitable and it does not mean there is intelligence about an imminent threat or danger,” Anthony Albanese said.

ASIO boss Mike Burgess said the decision was made after careful consideration.

“Our decision reflects the security environment is degrading,” Mr Burgess said.

“A threat level of probable is assessed as greater than 50 per cent chance of attack planning in the next 12 months.

“It does not mean that we have intelligence about the current attack planning or expectation of an imminent attack.”

He said the decision was not related to the current events in the Middle East.

“At this stage we do not believe any of the terrorist plots we have investigated in the last year have been inspired by Gaza,” Mr Burgess said.

“Terrorist leaders offshore are not inspiring attacks on shore. This is why we do not raise he threat level and immediate aftermath of the 7 October attack.

“Indirectly they have been important and relevant impacts, the conflict has fuelled grievances promoted protests, exacerbated the provision, undermined social cohesion and elevated intolerance.”

He said in the past four months, eight attacks or disruptions have either involved alleged terrorism or investigated as potential acts of terrorism.

Mr Burgess said there were four key indicators: the threat of lone actors, acceleration of radicalisation, a resurgence in minors embracing terrorism and diverse drivers of extremism.

Mr Burgess said trust in institutions was eroding, a trend that had been growing since the Covid pandemic.

“More Australians are being radicalised and radicalised more quickly,” Mr Burgess said.

“More Australians are embracing a more diverse range of extreme ideologies and more Australians are willing to use violence to advance their cause.

“Politically motivated violence now joins espionage and foreign interference is our principal security concerns.”

Mr Albanese said there were many things driving a global trend towards violence, including social media.

“We know that social media is playing a role here. We know that algorithms are pushing people to extremes.”

He also said governments around the world are concerned about youth radicalisation, online radicalisation, and the rise of new mixed ideologies.

“The essence and purpose of our democracy is that we can express our views and respectfully engage in disagreements and respectful debate, resolve our grievances peacefully.

“When the temperature of the security environment is rising, we must lower the temperature of debate, something I’ve been saying for some time because our words and our actions matter.

“Living in a country as stable and open as ours, social cohesion cannot be taken for granted, it must be nourished and it must be cherished as a national asset.”

Mr Albanese called out political figures who had tried to use the Middle East situation to “secure some short-term political advantage”.

“Australia, for example, is not directly involved in what is occurring in the Middle East and yet if you look at the comments that they have made by some Senators and members you think that is not the case.

“Some of that is designed deliberately to encourage a partisan response in a way that isn’t appropriate.”

He encouraged people to reach out to family members they suspect might be going down a path of radicalism.

More to come