THE Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, has said the attacks in Mumbai showed terrorism was still "out there" and highlighted the need to retain strong counter-terrorism laws.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
"Terrorism has not gone away because it has not been on the front pages of the newspapers for a while," he told 2UE yesterday.
"It is a cancer still … which has to be eradicated. That is why our domestic counter-terrorism laws have to remain strong."
Mr Rudd said there had been about 70 Australians in the area at the time of the attacks and 36 had not been accounted for.
The Government yesterday dispatched an emergency response team to India, including consular staff, two Centrelink counsellors and a doctor.
"A lot of people who have been caught up in this terrorist attack will be traumatised by it understandably," Mr Rudd said.
"Therefore, we are providing teams of social workers to assist those returning to provide support through counselling, personal support, or referral."
The Opposition leader, Malcolm Turnbull, said: "Mumbai seems a long way away from Australia, but we know there were many Australians in Mumbai at that time and a number of them have been killed and others injured. Our thoughts and prayers go to the victims and their families."
The Government has offered to assist with the investigation, though India has not yet said whether it will accept the offer. It is generally reluctant to agree to international counter-terrorism support. A liaison officer from the Australian Federal Police was due to arrive in India last night.
The consulate general in Mumbai is helping Australians who want to leave.
Emergency Management Australia is preparing to receive Australians returning home from the attacks.
