Peter Adamis  17 July 2014.   Australia is currently facing a number of challenges which have short term and long term consequences for the economy, security and culture.  Illegal boats, unrest in the Pacific basin, returning “Jihad”  Australian citizens, cyber warfare online attacks on individuals and institutions, rising basic foodstuffs and utilities are but some of the issues that are currently hitting our headlines every week. A copy of the complete article may be downloaded by clicking on:  AUSTRALIAN DOMESTIC JIHAD TERRORISTS RISK MANAGEMENT

The present threat Australia is being  faced with is how to manage those returning from fighting in Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan. It in this context we are not talking about our Defence force but rather individual Australian citizens who made the decision to be involved in a war that is not in the best interests of Australia. Citizens of a number of western countries for whatever reasons compelled to do so have been fighting and dying in conflicts that have nothing to do with the interests of the country of birth. This may be their choice but in taking that road creates an uncertain future should they attempt to return back home.

To combat p[potential domestic terrorism the Australian  government is taking a proactive approach by pushing ahead with its reforms to provide our law enforcement agencies with the appropriate and relevant powers to monitor and manage these new threats and are seeking further legislative powers that will encroach upon our privacy as we know it today. It is no secret that our law enforcement agencies are trying to emulate our American cousins in adopting similar legislation to eavesdrop and retain information on Australian citizens. Having said this, who will be watching the monitors and who will they be responsible and accountable to is what is on everyone’s lips and there is concern whether sufficient safe guards are in place.

Therefore, one wonders and beggars to ask the unthinkable whether we are on the right track regarding our approach to Australians (Jihads) fighting overseas in places like Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria?  Are creating an environment of fear to obtain greater powers for our law enforcement agencies and returning us back to the 1950s’ and 1960’s where the fear at that time was communism and the Cold War was at its highest.   I would like to think that over the years we as Australians have matured to the point where we can ascertain the difference between a real and implied threat on a domestic and international level.

Mind you, I am all for arming our law enforcement agencies with every manner of equipment and legislation to safe guard our interests on all levels without the need of creating an environment of an unknown fear.  McCarthyism in the USA was proved to be a failure and based on political reasons rather than of a strategic value and the same can be said of Prime Minister Bob Menzies during the Petrov affair being political rather than international communism.

I refuse to believe that we as Australians are so gullible to be taken in by the alleged fears Australians who have fought overseas will return to plot terrorists attacks on our home soil or use the safety of our shores to create terrorist cells.  The real fear that our law enforcement agencies are faced with is whether those who have served and fought in the above Middle Eastern countries as “Jihad” warriors will create domestic problems within Australia such as not contributing to the economic stability and long term interests of Australia and/or creating the foundations of groups that are alien to the Australian way of life. That these same individuals should they demonstrate any sign of un -Australian activities will use that training to battle our law enforcement agencies.

I am of the opinion that our law enforcement agencies have the resources, knowhow and skills to identify, contain and neutralise any potential threat to this country we call home, Australia. What they lack is the legislation to act and/or take action in advance to neutralise such scenarios, based on information that is beyond any doubt that the threat is real.  The last think we want is to create a climate where “Nazi like jackboots” are kicking doors in of families under the implied threat that a criminal act is in operation or about to be undertaken.

The current government in conjunction with other political parties should and must take an unbiased and collaborative approach to ensure that all threats possible have been planned and identified and appropriate action plans, indoctrination, induction and training has taken place. This collaborative approach should also be applied to our policies on illegal refugees and migrants entering Australia through the recognised visa system. For those Australians silly enough to have fought in a war that is not in the best interests of Australia should be scrutinised, interviewed and monitored at their point of departure and be given the opportunity to provide appropriate Australian authorities of the their activities during their absence from Australia. 

In summary, we the ordinary citizen in the street hope that our faith in our law enforcement agencies to look after our interests will never diminish in the face of the adversity and support our agencies to do their job with confidence.  What this translates into, is that we the citizen body in conjunction with government department should take a collaborative approach when Australia is faced with new challenges.  The article attached describes one of the many issues now faced by the Abbott Government.

The Voice from the Pavement – Peter Adamis is a Journalist/Commentator and writer. He is a retired Australian military serviceman and an Industry organisational & Occupational (OHS) & Training Consultant whose interests are within the parameters of domestic and international political spectrum.  He is an avid blogger and contributes to domestic and international community news media outlets as well as to local and Ethnic News.  He holds a Bachelor   of Adult Learning & Development (Monash), Grad Dip Occupational Health  & Safety, (Monash),  Dip. Training & Assessment, Dip Public Administration, and Dip Frontline Management. Contact via Email: [email protected] or via Mobile: 0409965538