Australia Says Terror Attack Thwarted
Arrests made in counter-terrorism raids
Police say that 15 arrests have been made during a series of counter-terrorism raids in Sydney and Melbourne early today.
New South Wales Police Commissioner Moroney says more than 400 police officers have been involved in raids on 15 homes in south-western Sydney.
He says they have arrested six men in Sydney and nine men in Victoria, who are alleged to be planning a terrorist attack in Australia.
"They're currently being interviewed by police and my expectation is that they will appear in Sydney courts this morning," he said.
Commissioner Moroney says a terrorist attack has been foiled.
"I am satisfied that we have disrupted what I would regard as the final stages of a terrorist attack or the launch of a terrorist attack in Australia," he said.
The planned target of the attack is not known.
The Commissioner says the raids are the result of a three-year investigation.
Laws amended
The raids follow an urgent amendment to the Federal Government's anti-terrorism laws that was rushed through Parliament last week.
The Government is due to table its major package of counter-terrorism laws.
Labor's shadow attorney-general, Nicola Roxon, says the party's support will be conditional on the Coalition abandoning provisions in the legislation against subversive speech.
She says even federal Attorney-General Philip Ruddock has admitted they are not properly drafted.
"He should conduct a review on the sedition offences and put that forward as a separate proposal," Ms Roxon said.
Some Coalition MPs have also expressed concern about the sedition laws.
There are also other concerns among backbenchers.
Liberal backbencher Steve Ciobo wants a bill of rights.
"It's not that I think the balance is wrong - I support the terror laws, I support the direction the Government's going in," he said.
He says the public needs reassuring rights will be protected.
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