Peter Dutton demands probe into Albanese’s absence in terror plot saga

Anthony Albanese is facing calls for a review into why he was left clueless for more than a week as state and federal police investigated a foiled terror plot in Sydney. 

Peter Dutton has demanded an independent review into the handling of a foiled anti-Semitic terror plot in Sydney as the NSW government prepares a raft of new laws to fight a dramatic escalation in Jewish hate.

The federal opposition leader Peter is pushing for an independent assessment after The Daily Telegraph revealed Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was not told about the discovery of a caravan full of explosives with the addresses of Jewish sites on January 19 until 10 days after the event. 

Security experts have blasted the Australian Federal Police’s decision to not inform Mr Albanese despite NSW Premier Chris Minns knowing about the latest escalation of growing anti-Semitism in Australia. 

The Leader of the Opposition Peter Dutton. Picture: Britta Campion

“We’re at a point where we need some transparency for what’s gone wrong here,” Mr Dutton said.

“It’s obvious that he doesn’t have an instinct for, frankly much interest in, the National Security picture of our country.

Mr Dutton questioned why Premier Chris Minns had not raised the disturbing discovery with the Prime Minister.

“I honestly think there should be an independent assessment of what has gone wrong here,” he said.

“I think the Prime Minister should appoint an eminent Australian from the law enforcement and intelligence community to have a transparent look at what has failed here, because we can’t have what could have been the most catastrophic terrorist event in our country’s history, and the prime minister doesn’t know about it until the public does.”

Chris Minns speaks at the Steps for Forgiveness event, The Botanical Gardens, Sydney. Picture: Damian Shaw

State Liberal leader Mark Speakman backed the calls of his federal counterpart, labelling NSW Premier Chris Minns’ decision not to tell Mr Albanese about the foiled terror plot a “disturbing failure in communication when the stakes are so high”.

“If the national cabinet were too large a group to tell, the Premier has failed to give a satisfactory explanation on why he didn’t tell the Prime Minister … or at least checked that the PM knew.”

On Saturday, Mr Minns defended his decision not to have a personal conversation with the Prime Minister because he was respecting the police’s decision to keep the process confidential. 

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Picture: David Geraghty

Mr Minns said the incident was also not brought up during the national cabinet meeting on January 21, two days after police were informed about the explosive-laden caravan.

“I completely accept that people would be scrutinising where and how I would brief my colleagues, but I wouldn’t do it on a forum that big with so many people from different jurisdictions,” he said.

“I take that responsibility very seriously, now that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t pick up the phone if I was concerned that there was a stalemate between the agencies or there was a lack of information, of course I would call up immediately.”

The NSW government is preparing to unveil new measures, including tougher penalties for racist attacks, as early as this week.

NSW Police has announced they will double the number of the detectives in Strike Force Pearl to crack down on growing anti-Semitism in NSW. 

Originally published as Peter Dutton demands probe into Albanese’s absence in terror plot saga