Turnbull Reassures Australians on National Security Amid Paris Attacks

Malcolm Turnbull has assured Australians that the country has "the best national security agencies in the world" and a strong multicultural society, despite the risk of terrorism, following the Paris attacks. Turnbull's comments were made after talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Indonesian President Joko Widodo, who both condemned the attacks as a "double crime" of mass murder and blasphemy against Islam. Turnbull stated that Australia has been a successful multicultural nation, and that its national security agencies have thwarted most terrorist attacks, but that the country cannot "pretend the risk is not there."

Key Takeaways:

• Turnbull has assured Australians that the country's national security agencies are the best in the world and can keep the nation safe from terrorism.
• Turnbull stated that Australia has been a successful multicultural nation, and that most terrorist attacks are thwarted by the country's national security agencies.
• Turnbull claimed that terrorism is a global problem that requires a collective response, and that Isis must be "defeated in the field".
• Turnbull suggested that Australia could send peacekeepers to Syria depending on the outcome of the G20 talks, but Bill Shorten urged that a peace plan is required before any troops can be sent.
• The Paris attacks have resulted in 129 people killed and 352 injured, including 90 critically.
• Turnbull stated that refugees in Australia are carefully screened, and that terrorist activities are more often linked to second and third-generation Australians.
• Turnbull and Bill Shorten both condemned the Paris attacks and offered support for national security.
• Turnbull and Abbott agreed that Muslim leaders should disavow the religious justification of Islamic terrorists and that any death-to-the-infidel mindset is ultimately conducive to the kind of vicious evil seen in Paris.

Statistics:

• 129 people were killed in the Paris attacks.
• 352 people were injured, including 90 critically in the attacks.
• Most terrorist attacks in Australia were thwarted by national security agencies.
• 12,000 Syrian refugees were taken in by the Australian government under Turnbull.
• 90% of terrorist activities in Australia are linked to second and third-generation Australians.

Sources:

• Malcolm Turnbull, "Terror attacks in Paris: Mourners hold vigils worldwide for victims -- live updates", The Conversation
• Tony Abbott, interview with Andrew Bolt, "Why Muslim leaders should condemn Isis", The Australian