'Keep it away from Australia'

2004-09-20 10:03

Sydney - Prime Minister John Howard on Monday unveiled a plan to use flying squads of Australian police to pre-empt terrorist strikes in neighbouring countries.

Some of the officers would be based overseas, he said, including a team in Indonesia, where an Australian police presence could stir nationalist resentment.

Security is a major issue in campaigning for Australia's October 9 election.

Earlier this month Canberra's embassy in Jakarta was targeted by a bomb blast, which killed nine Indonesians.

Speaking about his A$100m proposal, Howard said the five-year plan would involve six new police teams, which could be flown into countries at short notice.

One would be based in Indonesia, one in an unspecified Asian country and the rest in Australia.

"Fighting terrorism at its source, prevention is always better than response or cure, to have people on the ground, in cooperation with police services in the region, to stop the problem coming to Australia," Howard told national radio.

"That's the whole philosophy, keep it away from Australia."

Opposition leader Mark Latham separately unveiled a major new defence policy on Monday.

Latham's $373m policy includes a defence review, more troops in northern Australia and host of benefits for soldiers.

"A federal Labour government will ensure that Australia has the defence capabilities it needs to secure, protect and defend our people, territory and national interests," Latham said.

Fears of a terrorist attack within Australia have been heightened by the 2002 Bali bombings, which killed 88 Australians, and Howard's strong support for last year's US-led invasion of Iraq.

The embassy bombing has prompted fears of another terrorist attack against an Australian target before the general election.

- AFP