The Albanese Government welcomes the decision by the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) to lower Australia's National Terrorism Threat Level from PROBABLE to POSSIBLE.
Overall, ASIO has assessed that the factors that contributed to raising the terrorism threat level in 2014 no longer exist, or persist to a lesser degree.
In particular, ASIO has assessed that while Australia remains a potential terrorist target, there are fewer violent extremists with the intention to conduct an attack in Australia than there were when the threat level was raised in September 2014.
The lowering of the threat level does not mean the threat from terrorism is extinguished.
The proliferation of extremist content online means individuals can be radicalised very quickly - potentially in days and weeks.
Another significant challenge that is adding complexity to Australia's security environment is the radicalisation of minors. "I want all Australians to understand that a lower threat level does not mean a lower operational tempo for our security agencies," Minister Clare O'Neil said.
New challenges and priorities include:
- Addressing the threat posed by ideologically motivated, nationalist and racist violent extremists, or what is sometimes called right-wing extremism
- Examining the use of the internet to glorify extremism and radicalise young Australians
- Evolving and strengthening our approach to the prevention of violent extremism
"The reduction in the threat level reflects the maturity of Australia's counter-terrorism frameworks, laws and resourcing," Minister O'Neil said.
"As the Director-General of Security Mike Burgess has said, 'possible does not mean negligible'."
"The national terrorism threat level is regularly reviewed and updated in line with the changing security environment," Minister O'Neil said.
"Threats will continue to evolve and we expect to see changes in the security environment over time."
"Our security, intelligence and law enforcement agencies continue to work together to counter terrorism, and with our international partners."
