Aus wants more spies

2005-10-16 13:47

Sydney - Australia's main spy agency will double its staff numbers by 2010 in response to the threat of a homegrown terrorist attack, Prime Minister John Howard said Sunday.

Howard said staff levels as the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) would rise from 980 to 1 860 over the next five years in line with recommendations made by former intelligence chief Allan Taylor.

Howard said he feared Australia could face a similar attack to the London bombings which killed 52 people in July. The attacks were carried out by British-born or long-term British residents.

"London drove home, more than any other terrorist attack, drove it home to us that it could happen here," Howard told reporters.

Howard said the best weapon in the fight against terrorism was good intelligence.

He has already doubled the spy agency's budget in the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States and has proposed new laws increasing the powers of ASIO and other counter-terrorism organisations to detain suspects without charge.

- SAPA