PM defends non-listing of radical group

(AAP) - Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says Australia didn't ban the radical Islamist organisation allegedly behind a plot to attack a Sydney military base because it could have tipped off the group.

Mr Rudd said whether or not to list al-Shabaab as a terror organisation had been the
subject of "internal deliberation" for some time, but the government didn't want to
do anything to compromise Tuesday's swoop on 19 properties across Melbourne and
regional Victoria.
The pre-dawn raids followed a seven-month surveillance operation and resulted in
five men being charged.
Al-Shabaab has been listed as a terrorist group in the United States since February
2008.
"This (listing the group) has been the subject of some internal deliberation within
the government between the attorney-general's department and the department of
foreign affairs for a period of time," Mr Rudd told ABC Radio.
"We have also, however, been mindful of an operation which was ongoing, and
therefore the need to proceed with appropriate caution."
The prime minister said any subsequent decision would be made "in due season" based
on the advice of security and intelligence organisations.
Mr Rudd also announced on Wednesday he'd ordered a review of security at all
military bases in Australia. It will examine the practice of using private security
firms to guard military installations.
Police allege the men arrested in Melbourne were planning a suicide shoot-out with
automatic weapons at the Holsworthy Barracks in Sydney.
The national security committee of federal cabinet met on Tuesday afternoon, Mr Rudd
said.
Defence force chief Angus Houston advised the committee that based on "current
knowledge" security arrangements were "adequate".
"However, I have requested that the CDF (chief of the defence force) and the defence
department undertake an immediate and comprehensive review of adequacy," Mr Rudd
said.
"What I want to be confident of is that the security at each installation is right,
and that it's calibrated to our security needs."
Mr Rudd said the review would examine the continued suitability of security
arrangements involving private security contractors.
Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard says a previous government decided to use
private security firms to guard Australian military bases in order to free up
soldiers for more highly trained work.
"We moved in this country to having jobs in defence contracted out, including having
security jobs contracted out, because the drive then was to put more teeth at the
front," Ms Gillard told Macquarie Radio Network.
"To have soldiers - and our soldiers are very highly trained and very capable -
doing the work that they are trained to do. That was the philosophy."
Defence Minister John Faulkner says security arrangements currently include a range
of physical and personnel measures coupled with intelligence "to provide a layered
response to mitigate threats".
"However, the government has decided, given the circumstances, it is appropriate to
review current measures."
An initial report is expected to be finalised by the end of this month.