A UNIT will be set up within Australia's security service ASIO to assess
the threat of terrorism to the nation.
Just days after coming under sustained attack in Federal Parliament for
underestimating the terrorism risk to Australia, the Howard Government has
revealed its plans for the specialised unit to "enhance ASIO's threat
assessment capability".
The Threat Assessments Unit will be responsible for assessing intelligence,
preparing assessments of the threat to Australia and Australian interests
from terrorism, and publishing risk levels.
A spokeswoman for Attorney-General Daryl Williams last night said the unit
was "part of the Government's continuing commitment to enhancing
counter-terrorism resources".
According to advertisements for interested applicants, the unit will be
staffed by a director paid about $80,000 a year, a number of analysts
earning up to $70,000, and a "threats production officer" responsible for
publishing threat levels. Security service ASIO, which has an annual budget
of about $65 million, has a staff of up to 550 working from its central
office in Canberra and other offices in each capital city. The Opposition
used parliamentary question times during the past fortnight to ask why
Australia's terrorism threat had not been raised as a result of the war in
Iraq, when the British and US governments were warning of greater risk.
Senior ministers said ASIO had not passed on any reason to upgrade the
security alert level.
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,6218517%255E421,00.html
