New Sydney counter-terrorism hub targets online radicalisation

A Counter Terrorism Online Centre opened in Sydney on Friday, November 13, bringing the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation and Australian Federal Police together to detect and disrupt online violent extremism. The federal government allocated $74 million for the initiative in the May budget.

ASIO director-general Mike Burgess said extremist interaction increasingly takes place in encrypted online groups, making online operations necessary to understand identities, intentions, capabilities and possible targets. Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett warned that younger people can be drawn towards violence in rapidly changing online environments.

The centre will also be a single entry point for overseas partners supplying information about online national-security threats. Personnel will be trained to identify potential offenders and people at risk of radicalisation.

Separately, a review of the national terrorism threat-level system is due to be presented to Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke. Officials want clearer public communication between a broad assessment that an attack is probable and specific intelligence about an imminent attack. A revised scale has not been announced as final; consultation with states and territories would follow ministerial consideration. The photograph is a general Sydney view, not the centre or its premises.