Dutton calls for probe into when PM was briefed on alleged caravan terrorist plot

Peter Dutton is calling for a probe into when Anthony Albanese was briefed on an explosive-laden caravan linked to an alleged anti-Semitic terror plot.

Peter Dutton has formally called on Anthony Albanese to set up an independent probe into when he was briefed about an explosive-laden caravan linked to an alleged anti-Semitic terror plot in Sydney.

It has been reported that the Prime Minister was not informed of the discovery until just before it was made public on January 29 – 10 days after the fact.

NSW Premier Chris Minns has said he was briefed on January 20.

The Opposition Leader on Thursday said it was “inconceivable” that Mr Albanese did not know about the find.

Peter Dutton has formally called on Anthony Albanese to set up an independent probe into when he was briefed about an explosive-laden caravan. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“I have written to the Prime Minister today asking for an independent inquiry in relation to the fact that the Prime Minister of our country wasn’t notified for nine days, 10 days of what was believed to be the biggest planned terrorist attack in our country’s history,” he said.

“It is inconceivable that the Prime Minister didn’t know about it.

“It’s inconceivable, if you think about it, during the conversations that the Prime Minister had with the Premier, who had been briefed on the 20th of January, that neither the Premier nor the Prime Minister raised the issue in the discussions.”

Anthony Albanese has clashed with a morning show host over when was briefed about an explosive-laden caravan linked to an alleged anti-Semitic terror plot in Sydney. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Mr Dutton said it “just doesn’t ring true”.

He accused Mr Albanese of making up “all sorts of theories about why he can’t disclose the date”.

He said if Mr Albanese had not been told then it was because investigators feared informationed would be leaked.

“I don’t think there’s any breakdown in the process,” Mr Dutton said.

“The NSW Police have either made a deliberate decision not to advise the commonwealth so that the Prime Minister wasn’t advised because they were worried he was going to leak the information.

“Beyond that, there’s no other reasonable explanation.”

Police discovered the caravan in Dural, a semirural region in Sydney’s northwest.

It was allegedly packed with mining explosives, according to NSW authorities.

Officers also allegedly found a list of targets, which reportedly included the Great Synagogue in Sydney’s CBD and the Sydney Jewish Museum.

The find, which police allege had a blast radius of 40 metres, came amid a spate of anti-Semitic attacks in Sydney and Melbourne.

‘Breakdown in communication’

Independent senator Jacqui Lambie has defended Mr Albanese, putting it down to a “breakdown in communication”.

“When there is a national security issue in this country, the first person that should be alerted is the Prime Minister,” she told Sky News.

“Now there’s been a breakdown in communication there, that’s not the Prime Minister’s fault.

“I have to say. Why wasn’t he rang up that night, that morning?”

But she refused to put the blame on the AFP.

“I don’t want to blame the AFP, they do a great job out there, and nor do I want to blame PM,” she said.

“There has been a break in communication there.”

‘Absurd’

Earlier, Mr Albanese dismissed the idea of an inquiry as “absurd” in a tense interview with Karl Stefanovic.

The Today host charged that he “must have been absolutely livid” that he was not notified earlier of the find.

But Mr Albanese brushed off the assertion he was not told.

Anthony Albanese had appeared on the show from Townsville, which has been badly hit by flooding. Picture: Today

“Now you’re making an incredible assumption there, Karl,” he responded.

“What’s important here is that we don’t play politics with national security.

“And when it comes to a range of the issues related to the anti-Semitic attacks, what I haven’t done is go out there and reveal intelligence.”

Stefanovic pushed on, asking Mr Albanese if he would support an inquiry into whether there
“was an embarrassing communications failure”.

“So stop the investigations?” Mr Albanese shot back icily.

“Stop doing the work to track down the perpetrators of these crimes and engage in politics?”

He continued: “Do you think that that is a sensible use of resources?”

Stefanovic said he thought it deserved “some focus”.

The Prime Minister responded tersely to questions on whether he was briefed early enough on the caravan. Picture: Today

“If the prime minister of this country is not told about something of this magnitude … I’d be scratching my head going … ‘why not?’” the host said.

But Mr Albanese stuck to his message, saying what was “important is tracking down the perpetrators of these crimes”.

“I find it frankly absurd that people think, for example, that resources should be diverted, that the AFP and intelligence agencies should be engaged in a political process rather than doing their job,” he said.

“And you know what my job is, Karl? It’s really simple. It’s to back our authorities to do their job. All right. And that’s what I do.”

Originally published as Dutton calls for probe into when PM was briefed on alleged caravan terrorist plot