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Vic: More needed to protect Victoria from terrorist strike


21 Jan 2009 4:44 PM

Victoria's official auditor says the state's inadequately prepared to protect its essential services from a terrorist attack.

Auditor-General DES PEARSON found laws governing the protection of essential services like water and infrastructure against a terrorist strike are duplicated and lax.

Victorian counter-terrorism laws were introduced after the 2001 terrorist attacks in the US and the 2002 Bali bombings.

In his report Mr PEARSON says arrangements are not as effective as they could be .. and some government departments have failed to declare consider essential services under the Terrorism Act.

He says of the nine security networks to protect assets .. only two are well developed.