Commuters urged to ring National Security Hotline in major anti-terrorism campaign

Heading to work? Look out for terrorists. That is the message to Sydney commuters under a new national security campaign.

EXCLUSIVE

Sydney commuters are being urged to report any signs of terrorism in a major national security campaign being backed by the federal government.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has lent his support to a Transport for NSW campaign being rolled out across the public transport network to boost awareness of terrorism and foreign interference.

The announcements have been running across the public transport network for several months pointing commuters to the National Security Hotline.

The helpline, which falls under the Home Affairs Department, is the government’s central point of contact to report concerns about possible signs of terrorism and foreign interference.

“I want Australians safe,” Mr Burke said.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke. Picture: Gary Ramage

“If anyone thinks they know something which should be reported to our security agencies I want the national security hotline to be the number they know.”

Examples of signs of terrorism were described by Home Affairs as including people threatening to harm others or infrastructure, websites or social media accounts promoting violent extremism, people purchasing chemicals or abandoned luggage.

“Transport for NSW runs a number of safety-focused passenger campaigns which include announcements, signage and other marketing channels,” a spokesman said.

It comes as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese maintained there were no further changes to the terror threat levels despite tensions in the Middle East in recent weeks that have now spread to include the US.

“There has been no change in the national security alert,” Mr Albanese told Sky News.

Asked if he would agree to Washington’s demand that Australia up its defence spending to 3.5 per cent of gross domestic product, Mr Albanese said: “Our approach is very clear, we will ensure Australia has the capability we need.”

Commuters heard the warnings over loudspeaker at Central station. Picture: Monique Harmer

A Home Affairs spokesman said the announcements did not suggest concerns of an impending attack.

“The promotion of National Security Hotline materials does not indicate that we have intelligence about current attack planning or an expectation of an imminent attack,” they said.

Instead they said the announcements were a sign of state and federal governments working together to promote the federal helpline.

“The public are regularly encouraged to report possible signs of terrorism and foreign interference to the National Security Hotline,” they said.

“States and territories are our partners in preventing terrorism and are not required to seek Australian Government agreement to promote the National Security Hotline.”

Strategic Analysis Australia founder Michael Shoebridge warned that telling the public terror levels were unchanged could allow people to become complacent.

He welcomed the campaign from NSW Transport

“The problem with the terror levels is they are big broad brush things,” he said.

“By saying the formal alert level hasn’t changed, you just signal complacency to the population.

“Extremism and terrorism is now an online phenomenon, it’s common sense to bring people’s attention to that hotline.”

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Originally published as Commuters urged to ring National Security Hotline in major anti-terrorism campaign