Terrorism in Australia: an inflated threat

This comment questions the assertion made by the Australian government’s 2010 White Paper on Counter-Terrorism that the terrorist threat has become a “persistent and permanent feature of Australia’s security environment” and that an attack “could occur at any time.” It demonstrates that in fact the chances of getting killed in a terrorist attack in Australia are close to zero. As a consequence the comment argues that a comprehensive and facts-based review and reform of Australia’s approach to counter-terrorism is urgently needed. Any such process needs to be based on the realisation that the risk of terrorism in Australia is insignificant.