ALP backs terror bid
‘No place for politics’
THE ALP will work with the Turnbull Government on expanded anti-terror powers for the police and Australian Defence Force, Opposition defence spokesman Richard Marles told the Geelong Advertiser.
“This is one of those areas where both sides of politics should work together — and we will,” the Corio MP confirmed yesterday.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull staged a press conference at Holsworthy Barracks in Sydney’s southwest to announce the plan, where he was flanked by military equipment and heavily-armed masked soldiers.
Mr Turnbull unveiled a raft of changes, including having special forces provide specialised training to local police officers, and for Defence to offer soldiers for embedding within police forces to bolster engagement between authorities.
“We have to ensure that every resource we have — legislative, military, police, in- telligence, security — is always at the highest standard and able to be brought to bear to keep Australians safe,” Mr Turnbull said.
Mr Marles echoed those sentiments.
“It’s always going to be our local police who are the first on the spot in any terror incident,” he said. “What we need to make sure is that they ask for back-up easily, and that it’s there when they need it.”
Mr Marles, who was last week clad in camouflage and embedded with 30,000 US and Australian soldiers in Queensland as part of the Talisman Sabre war games, took a swipe at Mr Turnbull’s use of diggers as “props” during the Holsworthy event.
“There is a fine line between acknowledging and celebrating the incredible work that our defence force personnel do on the one hand and politicising them on the other,” Mr Marles said in Melbourne.
“The Australian people can well see a prop when it is presented — they can sniff it from a mile away.”
A spokeswoman from the Prime Minister’s office said the soldiers were on hand to assist with the demonstration and explain the capabilities the military has in the event of a terrorist attack.
The Federal Opposition is now seeking further details and a briefing from the government on the proposed changes.