Australia: 'Terror kits' to be sent to every home

The Australian government will mail an information kit to every home in the country this week explaining what to do in the event of a terrorist attack.

Dubbed “terror kits” by the media and opposition parties, the packs will contain a detailed information booklet and a fridge magnet with the telephone number of the Government’s terrorism hot line.

The kit is the second stage of a 15 million Australian dollar (€8.1m) government advertising campaign which tells people to be “alert but not alarmed” about terrorism.

A letter from Prime Minister John Howard inserted in the pack says: “We have to take necessary steps to protect ourselves.”

The mailing follows radio, television and newspaper ads which started in December and urge people to report any suspicious activity to an anti-terror telephone hot line.

In November, the Government warned that it had received credible information of a possible terrorist attack in Australia in the coming months.

Australia was already on heightened alert after the October 12 bombings on the Indonesian island of Bali killed 192 people, including 88 Australians.

Opposition parties criticised the mailing of the packets, saying Howard was using fear for political purposes.

“All too often this government has been quick to play the fear card without doing anything to back that up,” a spokesman for opposition leader Simon Crean said.

Howard dismissed the criticism.

“This booklet, which has been very carefully put together, contains practical advice from the experts ... and it draws on the experience of other countries,” he told reporters.