Govt again forced to defend anti-terrorism hotline
The Federal Government has defended its anti-terror hotline despite one
false report already costing thousands of dollars.
An 18-year-old man from Perth is the first person convicted of providing a
false report to National Security Hotline.
The court heard Aldan Clifford Clinch rang the hotline and reported that an
Aboriginal Islamic Group was going to petrol bomb targets in Perth and
Fremantle.
Police found there was no such plot but the investigation cost over $4,000
and diverted crucial resources.
Attorney-General Daryl Williams says the hotline is a necessary resource to
fight terror but that people who abuse it will be punished.
"While anybody who produces false reports will be pursued and if possible
prosecuted, we don't want discourage anybody who may have a legitimate
concern from ringing the hotline," he said.
http://abc.net.au/news/justin/nat/newsnat-1jan2003-73.htm
The ad campaign for this,'dob in a terrorist',freecall mentions that
australians are free,decent democratic people...and we are going to stay
that way.Helped,presumably by the 20% phone tapping police are running on
us 'free,'decent,democratic',folks.
