Published Tuesday, 30 September, 2008 at 03:50 PM
Premier
The Honourable Anna Bligh
New National Counter-Terrorism Alert System introduced
Premier Anna Bligh has today announced that Queensland will move to a new, more flexible National Counter-Terrorism Alert System, along with all other states and territories.
“The four levels of the National Counter-Terrorism Alert System remain the same — low, medium, high and extreme,” said the Premier.
“The difference with the new Alert System lies in how the levels can now be changed in a more targeted way to reflect varying risks of terrorism.
“The previous approach to the national counter-terrorism alert was ‘one in, all in’,” Ms Bligh said.
“We can now apply different levels of alert across Australia, to individual states, specific industry and business sectors, or particular geographic locations.
“This change has come from experiences in recent counter-terrorism exercises where it was evident there would be benefits from greater flexibility.
“This flexibility will help avoid needlessly impacting those unaffected by a threat or incident of terrorism, it will help avoid unnecessary disruptions to everyday life.
The National Counter-Terrorism Alert System indicates levels of vigilance and awareness needed by the community, industry and government to minimise the risk of a terrorist incident occurring.
“With the many tragic acts of terrorism over the past decade, this government has continued to work to strengthen our counter-terrorism arrangements.
“This new National Counter-Terrorism Alert System is an example of how we are working to help protect Australia from terrorism.”
As is the case with all other states and territories, the statewide Queensland alert level remains at medium. This is the same as the national alert level of medium which Australia has been at since 2003.
For more information go to http://www.premiers.qld.gov.au/security_planning/
Media enquiries contact: Premier’s Office 3224 4500
“The four levels of the National Counter-Terrorism Alert System remain the same — low, medium, high and extreme,” said the Premier.
“The difference with the new Alert System lies in how the levels can now be changed in a more targeted way to reflect varying risks of terrorism.
“The previous approach to the national counter-terrorism alert was ‘one in, all in’,” Ms Bligh said.
“We can now apply different levels of alert across Australia, to individual states, specific industry and business sectors, or particular geographic locations.
“This change has come from experiences in recent counter-terrorism exercises where it was evident there would be benefits from greater flexibility.
“This flexibility will help avoid needlessly impacting those unaffected by a threat or incident of terrorism, it will help avoid unnecessary disruptions to everyday life.
The National Counter-Terrorism Alert System indicates levels of vigilance and awareness needed by the community, industry and government to minimise the risk of a terrorist incident occurring.
“With the many tragic acts of terrorism over the past decade, this government has continued to work to strengthen our counter-terrorism arrangements.
“This new National Counter-Terrorism Alert System is an example of how we are working to help protect Australia from terrorism.”
As is the case with all other states and territories, the statewide Queensland alert level remains at medium. This is the same as the national alert level of medium which Australia has been at since 2003.
For more information go to http://www.premiers.qld.gov.au/security_planning/
Media enquiries contact: Premier’s Office 3224 4500