Subject:
UK terror threat; World Youth Day; Iraq; Bennelong; smoking laws.
E&OE...
PRIME MINISTER:
Do you have any questions?
JOURNALIST:
Prime Minister, the UK's now raised its terrorist levels, threat level, to the highest level, what does this mean for Australia?
PRIME MINISTER:
Well it has no direct relevance to Australia but what is happening in Great Britain is a reminder to all of us that despite all the talk on occasions from some that the threat of terrorism is exaggerated in our societies, it is not, and we must remain vigilant. I can't speak with any greater authority than anybody else on who's responsible for what's happened in Great Britain. But it does appear coordinated. It does not appear to be a coincidence that there have been three incidents and it is just a reminder again that we can't rest, we have to remain vigilant, we have to be, whilst going about our normal lives, we have to be continuously aware that there are people who seek to bring about death and destruction for no good purpose.
JOURNALIST:
Mr Howard specifically this event next year, I would imagine there would have to be enormous security, would there not?
PRIME MINISTER:
Well any great event involves security and I know that involves some inconvenience to people but the terrorists win if you stop doing things because of the inconvenience of security. There'll be some inconvenience surrounding APEC, there'll be some inconvenience surrounding the World Youth Day next year. But both of them are very important events and if we said to the world,