Australia’s terrorism threat level has been lowered for the first time in close to a decade, but one of the nation’s top spies has warned an attack could still occur in the next 12 months.
The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) director-general, Mike Burgess, said the decision to lower the threat level from probable to possible reflected a “more complex and challenging” security environment.
“ASIO’s assessment is that, while a terrorist attack in Australia is still possible, it is unlikely,” he said in a statement on Monday Morning.
“The threat environment in which we operate has become more complex and challenging over the last several years.
“There is no doubt that the terrorist threat to Australia is enduring.”
“Their conclusion is that while Australia remains a potential terrorist target, there are fewer extremists with the intention to conduct an attack onshore than there were when the threat level was raised in 2014.”
The decision to repatriate Australian women and children linked to ISIS from Syria was taken into account when lowering the threat level.
Mr.Burgess said terrorism is still a big threat and just because the threat level is lower doesn’t mean that ASIO will be either.
The threat of espionage and foreign interference has taken over from terrorism as the nation’s principal security concern.
