John Smith wrote on Sep 9^th, 2014 at 9:08pm:


It's ignorance, selfishness and lack of understanding.
It is for this reason alone that the fate of all the countries in the world are in the hands of bankers, corporations and leaders who have silver spoons jammed up their backsides.

Jasin wrote on Sep 9^th, 2014 at 9:53pm:


I spell dumbocracy wrong as well.

Jasin wrote on Sep 9^th, 2014 at 9:53pm:


We all spell Freeedom wrong.

I’m curious. Does anyone get it right?

Karnal wrote on Sep 9^th, 2014 at 10:14pm:



They still are for Abbott ...

imagine what he'd face if he had to actually deal with his budget?

World news


Australian security and counter-terrorism





Asio 'actively considering' raising Australia's terror threat level to high


Asio chief David Irvine says risks posed by homegrown militants have increased his concern about domestic national secucurity


Katharine Murphy, deputy political editor

 
theguardian.com, Tuesday 9 September 2014 19.48 AEST      

Jump to comments (352)






David Irvine
David Irvine said the domestic terror threat had been building in Australia ‘certainly over the last year or so’. Photograph: AAP Image/Lukas Coch


Australia’s top spy has signalled he is “actively considering” lifting Australia’s current terror alert level due to increased concerns about domestic national security risks posed by homegrown militants.

David Irvine told the ABC on Tuesday night that the current terror warning sat at a “very elevated level of medium” but the Australian Security and Intelligence Organisation (Asio) was considering lifting it above that level.

“I would say that at the moment it is at a very elevated level of medium and I’m certainly contemplating very seriously the notion of lifting it higher because of the numbers of people that we are now having to be concerned about in Australia, because of the influence of Syria and Iraq on young Australians – both in terms of going to those places to fight, but also in terms of what they are doing here in Australia, with a potential intent to attack,” the Asio chief said Tuesday night.

Asked whether the threat level would be changed in the coming days, ahead of his planned retirement at the end of this week, Irvine said: “It’s something that we in Asio are actively considering.”

Irvine said the domestic threat had been building in Australia, “certainly over the last year or so”. He said recent events in the Middle East had made him more concerned about domestic national security threats. Irvine noted that Australia had been “lucky” to avoid a terrorist incident on our soil.

The British government recently adjusted its terrorism threat level from “substantial” to “severe” in recognition of the risks posed by radicalised individuals and returning fighters from the sectarian conflicts in Syria and Iraq.

At the time of the UK adjustment, the Abbott government said it remained in close contact with overseas allies about the terrorism threat. The attorney general George Brandis said the Australian designation of “medium” indicated that a domestic terror attack could occur.

“This level is under constant review by the Australian government and is based on advice from security and intelligence agencies,” Brandis said on 30 August. “Australia’s threat level would be increased to ‘high’ if it were deemed that a terrorist attack is likely to occur.”

In an interview Tuesday night on the ABC’s 7.30, Irvine declined to say precisely how many Australians had returned home from overseas conflicts. He indicated only the number was “more than 20”.

The Asio chief continued to play down the risks that Australia’s likely military involvement in Iraq would increase the risk of a terrorism incident at home.

Irvine noted that this was “a popular line that you hear” but he argued Australia was already a terror target.

The government has been telegraphing for some time its intention to bring forward legislation that will make it easier to prosecute foreign fighters participating in overseas conflicts. That legislation has not yet been produced. It is expected to be introduced to parliament when it sits later this month, in the week beginning 22 September.

red baron wrote on Sep 10^th, 2014 at 10:24am:


Do you want to provide your source, Red? I just tried to Google ABS data on Muslim unemployment rates and came up with nothing.

It's strange. I went past Katoomba Centrelink the other day and they were all white Aussies. Newtown Centrelink's full of middle class kids with skateboards. Hurstville Centrelink's full of Chows.

Which 80% is true?

A quick squiz at your ABS data should sort this out, Red - thanks.

red baron wrote on Sep 10^th, 2014 at 10:24am:


Unemployment doesn't automatically mean that all people are spongers abusing the right for entitlements. I go for a walk down the street and see many people from foreign countries who are working, from all races.
A majority of the problem is the fact that there isn't enough jobs for everybody, especially when they are continuously cut. You'll find that people do want to work -- yeah, there are a lot of spongers. Many of the spongers I know are in fact white people, who spend their Centrelink benefits on speed and wonder why they have no food/coffee/cigarettes two days after pay day but this is a different issue.

How can you expect everybody to have a job when all the corporations are tightening up and sacking people? I saw a glimpse on TV that Coles cut many jobs in Melbourne, yet they can afford to advertise their products on TV and pay some big name celebrity chef to promote it? Doesn't add up to me.

A lot of the time it's because of the government that jobs are lost, yet they're going to make a stand and tighten up on Centrelink as well? If you're going to be responsible for job losses, you can damn well support the people who have lost jobs in my opinion. And no amount of government paid schooling will get you a job if the job isn't there to begin with. This country is going to be a third world country the rate this is going.