This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-29928910
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Australia security: Your questions to Jon Donnison | Australia security: Your questions to Jon Donnison |
(5 days later) | |
Over the last few months Australia has been increasing its efforts to fight terrorism. | Over the last few months Australia has been increasing its efforts to fight terrorism. |
Prime Minister Tony Abbott raised the country's terrorism threat level from medium to high amid growing concern over the domestic impact of radical Islamist groups in Iraq and Syria. | Prime Minister Tony Abbott raised the country's terrorism threat level from medium to high amid growing concern over the domestic impact of radical Islamist groups in Iraq and Syria. |
In September, police in Sydney and Brisbane carried out what they described as the "biggest counter-terrorism operation" in the country's history. Security was also upgraded at the Australian parliament following "chatter" suggesting extremists could target it for attack. | In September, police in Sydney and Brisbane carried out what they described as the "biggest counter-terrorism operation" in the country's history. Security was also upgraded at the Australian parliament following "chatter" suggesting extremists could target it for attack. |
The BBC's Australia correspondent Jon Donnison answered some of your questions on security down under in a live Twitter Q&A. | |
This is an edited version of the session: | |
Lucille Law on Facebook asks: Should Australia be more worried about Islamic State threats from abroad or at home? | |
Jon says: Hi. Given distance, probably more worried about threat at home. That said, out of Islamic population of 700,000, only a tiny handful of IS supporters here. | |
@aus_istan: Is local media doing a good job in differentiating between terrorist ideology and peaceful Muslims? | |
Jon replies: In a word: no. Read tabloids and there is a fair bit of whipping up fear. As a result, sadly quite a number of Islamophobic attacks. | |
Neil Young via Facebook asks: Should Australia be expecting more anti-terror raids? | |
Jon says: Hi Neil. I think it's likely. The government says there are around 100 IS supporters in Australia. But worth noting after last big raids (800+ police) only one was charged. | |
Gene Yue on Facebook asks: Is the "burqa ban" a paranoid one? How many women in Australia have you seen really wearing burqas anyway? | |
Jon says: Hi Gene. I've never seen a woman wearing a burqa in Oz. Tony Abbott said he hadn't either. Media and government confusing burqas with niqab. Basically I think lazy journalists like the alliteration of "burqa ban." Niqab ban doesn't sound so catchy. | |
Khakurel Amrita on Facebook asks: Are you a cat or a dog person? | |
Jon replies: Hi Khakurel. I'm definitely a hound man but the missus tells me we have to get our baby before a dog! Baby is due in March so pencilling in a pooch for 2015. | |
Liza Lee on Facebook asks: What do the majority of Australians think of the KKK nutters at parliament? | |
Jon says: Hi Liza. Probably that they were one tinny short of a full six pack! They tried and failed to make a pretty incoherent point. | |
@James_G_Fowler: Is climate change not a threat to security in Australia? | |
Jon replies: G'day. Long term climate change poses a much greater threat to Australians' livelihoods than Islamic State militants. But that's just my view ;-) | |
A Oei emails: Do you think Australia is still a 'lucky country' with all the terror raids going on? | |
Jon says: "Lucky Country" is greatly misused. Was said with sarcasm/irony. So maybe the author Donald Horne may have still thought Australia was "lucky". | |
D Songur emails: What will proposed special powers granted to Asio mean for journalists, news agencies and whistleblowers? | |
Jon replies: I don't think we know the answer to that but there is undoubtedly a lot of concern from journalists here about new laws and protecting sources. | |
@jmitter34: What do you think of the new Star Wars trailer? | |
Jon says: Being a bit codge, original Star Wars was much more my scene. First films I saw in the cinema. | |
Hang Kwon Li on Facebook asks: What's been your most memorable coverage experience during your time in Australia? | |
Jon says: Travelling to the Philippines to cover Typhoon Haiyan. A truly terrible story but Filipinos were some of the kindest people I've met. | |
Smain R Avidan on Facebook: I liked your World Service report. Was it hard to get interviews at mosques? | |
Jon replies: Hi Smain. No it wasn't hard. Most were happy to talk and were friendly. Many were originally from Tripoli in Lebanon, a place I have visited. | |
@grimlockchen: What is the Australian government doing about terrorists like those who want to go to Syria but can't because passports were cancelled? | |
Jon says: Watching them pretty closely I imagine. But those laws may end being challenged in courts here, I suspect. | |
@larry_friese: What would major national security concerns be if Australia detached itself from the US and UK and went neutral? | |
Jon replies: Hi Larry, interesting question given that Australia has been the US's most loyal ally over wars of last century. Think it would be of more concern to the US and UK. | |
Juwel Rai on Facebook asks: Are the beaches better in Gaza or Sydney? | |
Jon says: Now that's a tough one. Sorry Bondi but my heart is with Gaza beaches. So much potential there. | |
For more tweets from Jon Donnison you can follow his Twitter account. | |
Produced by Heather Chen |