"HOMEGROWN EXTREMISTS" IN OZ MUST BE TREATED LIKE ANY OTHER TERRORIST

Revelations that 14 federal parliamentarians have been at the receiving end of terrorist related threats during the election campaign thus far, highlights the reality that Australia is now no more immune to the threat of terrorism than anywhere else in the world.

 

What these "threats" also highlight is the need for full co-operation and completely unhindered sharing of information and investigative resources between ASIO, the AFP and the state and territory police services. There can be no impediments or obstructions preventing that.

 

Queensland police commissioner Ian Stewart, someone who should know a lot more than most people about the growing threat of home grown terrorism in Australia, has previously issued an ominous warning of sorts that it's a not a matter of "if it will happen" - but when.

 

Mr. Stewart, who broadcast his concerns about terrorism and extremism in Australia in The Courier Mail some months ago, was referring to the exact same kind of riff raff who have targeted the 14 federal MPs and their family members. 

 

An unholy mix of home grown terrorists and obviously highly militant and aggressive political activists who either want to participate in a terrorist act themselves, or at the least want to promote others to do so.

 

When this riff raff is caught, there can be no mercy, no leniency, even if some are not atypical terrorists and are just militant political activists who lost the plot in a moment of madness, they still committed a most heinous crime.

 

To make terrorist like threats against public figures is bad enough, to extend upon that and make the same against their family members is much worse again. You cannot do it and not go to jail for a lengthy duration.