Let’s talk: Should ‘military commandos’ handle terror attacks?

In the wake of the terror attacks on London, former prime minister of Australia Tony Abbott has once again called for reform in terror situations.

Abbott, supported by other government MPs, is seeking to amend the Defence Act. The amendment would allow “specialist military commando units” to take control of any terrorist situation deemed to be beyond the capabilities of the standard police force.

“If there is a complex situation,” Abbott says, “I think it is fitting the military become the lead agency.”

These talks have been underway since the Lindt café siege in December 2014. Now, the discussion has been taken up with renewed vigour following Saturday’s terror attacks in London, and the bomb threat on a Malaysia Airlines flight in Melbourne last week.

It took 100 minutes for Victoria Police to board the flight after being informed of a bomb threat. Chief commissioner Graham Ashton attributed the delay to the police’s need to investigate those on board, as well as the possibility of other devices being present on the plane.

“[These factors must] be considered as part of an evacuation process,” Ashton told the ABC. “It’s not just as simple as popping the doors open and getting everyone off straight away.”

Current Australian legislation states that, when assisting or cooperating with any state or territory, the Defence Force may not be “utilised for any particular task unless a member of the police force of the State or the Territory specified in the order requests, in writing, that the force be so utilised”.

Many are concerned that unnecessary or extensive delays may occur while adhering to this procedure.  

Senator David Fawcett, chairman of the foreign affairs, defence and trade committee, has penned an article in The Australian in support of this amendment to the Defence Act.

Fawcett served in the military from 1982 to 2004. He writes that “if a ‘high-risk incident’ develops into a siege or hostage event, the force best-equipped to deal with the threat must be deployed in a timely manner”.

Do you think the military should be the first responder during terrorist situations? Or should the local authorities continue to lead the situation?