ASIO raises terror threat level in Australia

Australia’s terror threat has been increased in part because of a deterioration of social cohesion exacerbated by social media.

Australia’s terror threat level has been raised from possible to probable for the first time in a decade because of deteriorating social cohesion, the Prime Minister announced on Monday.

Security agency ASIO advised the government that the terror threat level needed to rise because the “security environment is more volatile and more unpredictable.”

“I want to reassure Australians probable does not mean inevitable and it does not mean there is intelligence about an imminent threat or danger,” Anthony Albanese said.

ASIO boss Mike Burgess said the decision was made after careful consideration.

“Our decision reflects the security environment is degrading,” Mr Burgess said.

“A threat level of probable is assessed as greater than 50 per cent chance of attack planning in the next 12 months.

“It does not mean that we have intelligence about the current attack planning or expectation of an imminent attack.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, ASIO head Mike Burgess and Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus announced the raising of the terror threat level. Picture: Joseph Olbrycht-Palmer?NewsWire

He said the decision was not related to the current events in the Middle East,but the war between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas had contributed to the overall trend.

“At this stage we do not believe any of the terrorist plots we have investigated in the last year have been inspired by Gaza,” Mr Burgess said.

“Terrorist leaders offshore are not inspiring attacks on shore. This is why we do not raise the threat level and immediate aftermath of the 7 October attack.

“Indirectly they have been important and relevant impacts, the conflict has fuelled grievances promoted protests, exacerbated the provision, undermined social cohesion and elevated intolerance.”

He said in the past four months, eight attacks or disruptions have either involved alleged terrorism or investigated as potential acts of terrorism.

Mr Burgess said there were four key indicators: the threat of lone actors, acceleration of radicalisation, a resurgence in minors embracing terrorism and diverse drivers of extremism.

He said trust in institutions was eroding, a trend that had been growing since the Covid pandemic.

“More Australians are being radicalised and radicalised more quickly,” Mr Burgess said.

“More Australians are embracing a more diverse range of extreme ideologies and more Australians are willing to use violence to advance their cause.

“Politically motivated violence now joins espionage and foreign interference is our principal security concerns.”

ASIO head Mike Burgess has advised the terror threat level has been raised to probable. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the raising of the threat level does not mean a terror attack is inevitable. Picture: NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

The underlying challenges are clearly “exacerbated by the internet and social media,” the ASIO chief said.

While acknowledging there were many things driving a global shift toward violence, Mr Albanese also zeroed in on social media.

“We know that social media is playing a role in this,” he said, adding that it “pushes people towards more extremes and reinforces views”.

Highly graphic videos and politically-charged misinformation flooded social media following two high profile stabbings in Sydney in April.

One of the stabbings, allegedly carried out by a 16-year-old boy at an Assyrian Orthodox Church in Sydney’s west, was declared a terrorist incident.

The Prime Minister said it was important to be “aware but not frightened” if people notice concerning behaviour among young males in their family.

ASIO chief Mike Burgess says social media is feeding the deteriorating social cohesion leading to a raising of the terror threat level. Picture: NewsWire / Nicholas Eagar

Mr Burgess added parents ought to “be aware of what their children are consuming online.

“They are young adults need to make their own decision but perhaps having a conversation about what they are looking at online while they make their own decisions,” he said.

Mr Albanese also said governments around the world are concerned about youth radicalisation, online radicalisation, and the rise of new mixed ideologies.

“The essence and purpose of our democracy is that we can express our views and respectfully engage in disagreements and respectful debate, resolve our grievances peacefully.

“When the temperature of the security environment is rising, we must lower the temperature of debate, something I’ve been saying for some time because our words and our actions matter.

“Living in a country as stable and open as ours, social cohesion cannot be taken for granted, it must be nourished and it must be cherished as a national asset.”

Mr Albanese called out political figures who had tried to use the Middle East situation to “secure some short-term political advantage”.

“Australia, for example, is not directly involved in what is occurring in the Middle East and yet if you look at the comments that they have made by some Senators and members you think that is not the case.

“Some of that is designed deliberately to encourage a partisan response in a way that isn’t appropriate.”

He encouraged people to reach out to family members they suspect might be going down a path of radicalism.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton acknowledged the announcement saying “we do live in precarious times.”

“The national security risks that we have because of our values and what we believe in will always be there and we need to make sure that every support is provided to ASIO and I will make sure that we do that,” he said.

Originally published as ASIO raises terror threat level in Australia