Budget 2017: ASIO can no longer guarantee safety from ‘generation of extremists’

CONFLICT in Syria and Iraq has created a ‘generation of extremists’ that will be a security threat to the nation for the next decade and beyond, ASIO warns.

CONFLICT in both Syria and Iraq has created a generation of extremists in Australia that will be a security threat to the nation for the next 10 years and beyond, Australia has been warned.

And such is the scale, ASIO admits it can no longer guarantee that “harm” will not occur as it focuses all its efforts on counter terrorism at the expenses of other criminal activity.

That’s the latest assessment from the domestic spy group ASIO that together with their offshore counterparts ASIS and the Australian Federal Police yesterday received more than $400 million combined in new funding specifically to fight the rising threat of terrorism.

BUDGET 2017: YOUR FIVE-MINUTE GUIDE

The Budget reveals ASIO’s work was set “against a steadily worsening overall security and operational environment”, notably from extremists with Australian passports looking to return home to the country and those that never left but were inspired by events overseas to carry out attacks.

ASIO admits it can no longer guarantee that “harm” will not occur as it focuses on counter terrorism at the expense of other crimes. Picture: Gary Ramage

The conflict in Syria and Iraq is having a huge global impact.

It noted ASIO’s casework particularly had risen significantly with the cases involving “higher levels of threat” and that those in the jihadists’ crosshairs were military, law enforcement and security personnel but also civilians.

Since the national threat level was raised in September 2014 there had been four onshore attacks and more than 10 “disruptions” of attack plots.

“The conflict in Syria and Iraq has shaped a generation of extremists in Australia who will present a security risk for at least the coming decade,” ASIO said in its 2017 Budget statement.

“Foreign fighters returning or forcibly dispersed from Syria and Iraq will also present a longer term risk to Australians and Australian interests at home, in our immediate region and further abroad.”

Since the national threat level was raised in September 2014 there had been four onshore attacks and more than 10 “disruptions” of attack plots.

Espionage and foreign interference largely through cyber attacks also posed a great risk on an “unprecedented scale”.

On another threat, espionage and foreign interference largely through cyber attack also posed a great risk on an “unprecedented scale” with the potential to cause “serious harm” to the nation’s sovereignty, and economy, security and political system.

“In light of the scale of the security and operating environment challenges, ASIO cannot provide absolute assurance that activities that harm Australians national security will not occur,” the report concludes.

In the 2017 Budget, AFP was to receive $321.4 million to bolster its capabilities and both ASIO and ASIS also received significant financial boosts.

ASIO also admits such is its fight to mitigate threats to all Australians it would have a “reduced scope” to address a range of known “lower-priority” threats believed to include those from organised crime groups including Outlaw Motor Cycle Gangs.

Attorney-General’s Department officials yesterday declined to nominate those threats but said on ASIO admission it could not prevent harm, it nominated lone wolf attacks as generally too hard to detect.

As previously forecast by the government, the AFP was to receive $321.4 million to bolster its capabilities; both ASIO and ASIS also received significant budget boosts but the details cannot be listed for national security reasons. Allocations however do include for new staff recruitment particularly in cyber crime areas.

Originally published as Budget 2017: ASIO can no longer guarantee safety from ‘generation of extremists’