Last week the Australian Government released its much anticipated white paper on counter-terrorism.

Greg Sheridan wrote an interesting piece in The Australian on the white paper. He observes that the press and media commentators,

“so spectacularly miss the point that you wonder what universe they are living in. For example, have you heard Hezbollah terror groups are operating in Australia? It’s in the white paper, but not the media.

Have you heard the government has declared the level of terror threat a society faces depends on the size and composition of its Muslim minority? It’s in the white paper but not the media.”

Sheridan’s first point is found in Chapter  2.1.4, on page 14 of the white paper it says that Australia is ”currently home to a small number of people who support other causes that involve active terrorist campaigns overseas.”

“This includes groups with a long history of engaging in terrorist acts and a current capability to commit them, such as Lebanese Hizballah’s External Security Organisation.”

His second, is found on page 12,

“The scale of the problem will continue to depend on factors such as the size and make-up of local Muslim populations, including their ethnic and/or migrant origins, their geographical distribution and the success or otherwise of their integration into their host society.”

Sheridan says that the above is an obvious statement but one the extremes of society would not allow to be said as,

“It begs the question: is it necessary for a liberal Western society to encourage immigration from predominantly Muslim countries with histories of significant minority support for extremism, when it is obvious such immigration will lead to big problems?”

I agree with Sheridan when he calls for the introduction of biometric scanning of all arrivals into Australia, as it is required in the USA.

“The US requires everyone who enters the country to undergo fingerprint and retina scans. This is a limited measure. It only allows you to stop people already on your database. Nonetheless, it’s a good move and I think should be extended to everyone who wants to come to Australia.”

I believe we have failed in the integration of African refugees into Australia society. We have not had any measurable history of Africans in this country. (Except the freed African slaves who came on the First Fleet). Nevertheless, I prefer if we do not take in anymore refugees from Africa, we need to focus our humanitarian aid closer to home.

“To bring someone from war and refugee camp-living in Somalia or Sudan, with no competence at living in our sort of society, and dump them in Footscray or Bankstown with a Centrelink leaflet is asking for trouble.”

A lot more to discuss on this issue, and I shall post more later, nevertheless the white paper is an interesting read.