By Kerrie-Anne Walsh
February 2 2003




A confronting Federal Government booklet detailing how to spot a terrorist and survive an attack is being mailed to every Australian household this week.

The "terrorist kit" includes a letter from the Prime Minister, a fridge magnet with crisis contact numbers and cards with emergency numbers for wallets or purses.

While it is reassuring about the real prospect of a terrorist outrage on our soil, it is certain to raise concerns among an already anxious public.

It will also fuel the growing debate about whether Australia should be involved in a war with Iraq.

To be launched by Attorney-General Daryl Williams tomorrow, the total cost of the kit and recent TV ads is $15 million.

In his letter accompanying the unprecedented kit, John Howard stresses the need to "strike the right balance between sensible precaution and unnecessary alarm".

His letter begins: "Dear Fellow Australian, I am writing to you because I believe you and your family should know more about some key issues affecting the security of our country... "

The Prime Minister reassures: "We have strong national security co-ordination arrangements and our intelligence, law enforcement, defence and emergency services are well prepared to respond to the threat of terrorism."

And he concludes: "Australians have every reason to be hopeful and optimistic about the future. We are a strong, free, compassionate society - together, we will look out for Australia and protect the way of life we value so highly".

However, the 20-page booklet contains chilling advice about terrorism and its aftermath. Recalling the Tokyo subway gas attack in 1995, it reveals that health authorities have an action plan in place and have stockpiled antibiotics, vaccines, anti-viral drugs and chemical antidotes in case of biological or radiological attack.

Suspicious activity to look out for includes:

Unusual videotaping or photography of official buildings or other vital infrastructure.

In Singapore in 2001 a major terrorist plot, which included bombing the Australian High Commission, was averted because someone noticed the plotters videotaping buildings.

Suspicious vehicles near significant buildings or in busy public places. As happened in Bali, vehicles can be used for surveillance or planting bombs. People should watch out for cars sitting for unusually long times in the one spot, that sit low on their suspension (they may be concealing heavy explosives) or that are out of registration.

Suspicious accommodation needs. The way terrorists use, rent and buy accommodation is often suspicious.

Unusual purchases of large quantities of fertiliser, chemicals or explosives. The 1995 Oklahoma City bomb, which killed 168 people, was made from a tonne of fertiliser.

A lifestyle that doesn't add up. Before September 11, terrorists in the US undertook flight training - but they weren't interested in learning how to take off or land.

People should develop a checklist of "basic, commonsense" measures for use in a crisis. The booklet advises:

Decide who in the household will do what in an emergency.

Ask someone out of town to be a key contact, in case members of the household are separated.

Record the numbers of local police, fire,ambulance, SES, gas and electricity suppliers on the emergency fridge magnet.

Agree on a meeting place in case home is not accessible.

Record on the fridge magnet the location of main switches and valves.

Assemble an emergency kit containing a torch, battery-operated radio, a first aid kit including disposable latex gloves, and copies of important personal documents.

The booklet was developed on information provided by Australian Federal Police counter-terrorism agents, ASIO, the Director-General of Emergency Management Australia, and the Commonwealth Chief Medical Officer.


It will land in the letterboxes of millions of Australians in the week that many predict US President George Bush will make the final decision to attack Iraq.

Pressure would then be on the Government to join Bush's war, or pull back troops already deployed.

Military commentators have predicted that Australia's involvement in a US-led war would increase the threat of domestic terrorist attacks.