Australian Federal Police Commissioner Mick Keelty says Australia is now safer than it was five years ago but a specialist in terrorism, Dr Michael McKinley, says it is only a matter of time before someone attempts a terrorist attack on Australian soil.
Speaking on the 5th Anniversary of September 11, Mr Keelty said the attack on the US World Trade Centre had changed the way things were done "forever". He stated an effective framework had been established for inter-agency communications, information collation and anti-terrorist training, with better private sector and religious groups' co-ordination.
"A lot of the reasons why we are (safer) is our level of consciousness," Mr Keelty told the Seven Network. "Our level of understanding has improved."
While the Commissioner did not discount a continuing threat, Dr McKinley, a senior lecturer in international relations at the Australian National University (ANU), said Australia's chances of being attacked by terrorists had increased.
"It [Australia] has probably become more of a target since 9/11 because of Australia's very close alliance with the United States and its engagement in, particularly, Iraq," he said, "and therefore Australia is the recipient of a certain amount of animosity."
While there is presently much analysis in the United States about the quality and application of intelligence leading up to 9/11, Dr McKinley said without a specific event on Australian soil it was difficult to determine the level of our own preparedness.
However, he did concede that Australia was still weak in regional intelligence expertise. This was compounded by the fact that the most likely threat would come from South-East Asia and within Australia, specifically from a small minority of extremists "who are prepared to commit acts of violence against Australia or Australian interests".
"We have the proof of that from the attacks that have taken place," he said and, "because of some of the planning that has gone ahead and has been discussed and examined in court trials."
Dr McKinley said he believed somebody would attempt a terrorist attack in Australia, but he could not say when or where.
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