Aust business should firm up security because of terrorism-ASIO
By Jonathon Moran
SYDNEY, Feb 17 AAP - A peaceful solution to the threat of global terrorism was irrelevant,with the al-Qaeda network intent on targeting innocent civilians, the head of Australia'ssecurity organisation said today.
Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) director-general Dennis Richardsonspoke at an Australian Industry Group seminar aimed at providing practical advice on howcompanies might deal with any heightened risk of terrorism.
"A war in Iraq, with or without UN sanction, may well influence the timing of someterrorist attacks," Mr Richardson said.
"But of one thing we can be absolutely certain; a peaceful solution to the currentsituation will be irrelevant to (Osama) bin Laden's intent and purpose - al-Qaeda willseek to follow through on whatever it may be planning at present and its targets of firstchoice will remain innocent civilians."
Mr Richardson said, leaving aside principle and alliance, there were strong pragmaticreasons of self interest why Australia had no choice but to actively engage in the fightagainst terrorism.
"We have an interest and a responsibility to ensure that those very few Australianswith links to international terrorism do not involve themselves in acts of terrorism eitherin Australia or elsewhere," he said.
Mr Richardson said people had an interest and responsibility to ensure that Australia'sforeign interests were properly protected.
"Does anyone seriously doubt that in the event of a terrorist attack against foreigninterests in this country Australians would not be amongst the victims," he questioned.
He said there was also a responsibility to the hundreds of thousands of Australianswho travel overseas every year to minimise the risk of global terrorism.
"As we saw in Bali and New York, race, religion and/or nationality does not provideprotection," he said.
Mr Richardson said the country's businesses needed to firm up security plans in thewake of the increased threat.
He said self evidently, not all companies and businesses carried the same risk buthe advised businesses to assess their individual exposure to the threat of terrorism.
"Whatever the security of individual companies, it would be wise for those who havenot already done so ... to review security arrangements and to make conscious risk-managementdecisions based on expert advice of their own circumstances," he said.
Mr Richardson said factors affecting businesses were varied, including whether a companyin a particular sector had been previously targeted by terrorists, whether the companywas part of national infrastructure, did the company manufacture or transport explosiveswhich could be used in attacks and whether the company had an overseas presence.
AAP jwm/sh/rsm/ts
KEYWORD: TERROR RICHARDSON LEAD (REPEAT)
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