A re-elected Howard government would establish a "spy school" in Australia to help train counter-terror intelligence officers from around the region. The spy school was part of a $30 million (Aust. $40 million) anti-terrorism package announced by caretaker Prime Minister John Howard as a close-fought Australian election campaign enters its final days. The spy school would be used to help improve language skills for Australian intelligence agents, particularly Indonesian and Arabic, as well as focus on technical and information technology training. The center would also host intelligence agents from "regional partners in the war against terror," such as Indonesia.
| Indonesia's a "regional partner"? | |
"These agents will be trained in intelligence collection and analysis techniques, with which they can strengthen their country's capacity to disrupt the terrorist networks," the government's security policy release states. Australians elect a new government on October 9, with latest opinion polls suggesting the race between Howard's incumbent conservative coalition and the Australian Labor Party, led by Mark Latham, is too close to call. While the issue of national security has not played a major role in campaigning so far, Latham's lack of experience in government is considered a key weakness which the Howard forces are keen to exploit. |