Key Takeaways:
- The Howard government was working to mitigate concerns about a "homegrown" terrorist threat in 2005, two decades ago.
- The government sought to work with Australia’s Muslim community to prevent the radicalisation of young people.
- The 2005 cabinet documents reveal efforts to create a greater sense of inclusion among young Muslim Australians.
- The documents also outline potential risks during times of heightened political and social tension, including deep racial tensions and industrial relations reforms.
- The Howard government’s handling of immigration, national security, and climate change are also highlighted in the documents.
Introduction to the Topic
The Albanese government is currently grappling with the aftermath of the nation’s worst act of terrorism at Bondi Beach. However, previously secret cabinet documents reveal that the Howard government was working to mitigate concerns about a "homegrown" terrorist threat two decades ago. Hundreds of records from 2005 have been made public in the National Archives’ annual release, showing the Howard government sought to work with Australia’s Muslim community to prevent the radicalisation of young people. The concerns came after a spate of global terror attacks by Islamic extremists, including the 2002 Bali bombings and the 2005 London bombings.
The Threat of Terrorism
The cabinet documents show that the Howard government was aware of the potential for radicalisation within parts of culturally diverse Western societies, such as Australia. The multicultural affairs minister at the time, John Cobb, said that the London bombings were perpetrated by "mainly locally born and raised young Muslims". Mr. Cobb’s submission to cabinet highlighted the potential for radicalisation within parts of the Muslim community in Australia, citing factors such as Muslim isolation and alienation, continuing levels of racism and discrimination, and the complexity of the Muslim community. Research was commissioned to examine pathways into extremism, and the documents show efforts underway to create a greater sense of inclusion among young Muslim Australians.
Deep Racial Tensions
The cabinet documents also outline potential risks during times of heightened political and social tension. Mr. Cobb’s submission came one day after violent race riots broke out in the beachside suburb of Cronulla, in Sydney’s south. The riots exposed deep racial tensions, and retaliation attacks led by Middle Eastern Australians added to the violence over two days of unrest. The documents show that the Howard government was aware of the potential for community reaction against specific religious and ethnic groups, and the need for domestic harmony in the face of terrorist attacks and other violence.
Industrial Relations Reforms
Tensions also brewed in 2005 over industrial relations reforms, with the government looking to pass its controversial WorkChoices legislation. The workplace relations minister at the time, Kevin Andrews, said that the reforms needed to free up the labour market had previously been blocked by the Senate. However, the minister also warned the cabinet that a backlash was expected, and the trade unions’ campaign against WorkChoices was "the prime cause" of the Coalition’s election defeat in 2007. The documents show that the Howard government was aware of the potential risks of the reforms, but pursued them nonetheless.
Immigration and National Security
In 2005, immigration under the Howard government returned to the spotlight following the unlawful detention of dual citizen Cornelia Rau. The government announced an inquiry into Ms. Rau’s detention, led by former Australian Federal Police commissioner Mick Palmer. The inquiry found a serious cultural problem within parts of the immigration department, and the cabinet agreed to accept the broad thrust of Mr. Palmer’s findings. The documents show that the Howard government was aware of the need for cultural change within the department, and the importance of ensuring that Australia’s borders were secure.
Strengthening Bilateral Relationships
Also in 2005, Australia stepped in to help one of its nearest neighbours, providing aid to Indonesia, which was still reeling from the 2004 tsunami. The government also sought to strengthen its relationship with the US, and considered deploying special forces to Afghanistan. The documents show that the Howard government was aware of the importance of bilateral relationships, and the need to work with other countries to address global challenges such as terrorism and climate change.
Pandemic Foreshadowed
The cabinet documents also show that the Howard government was preparing for a possible influenza pandemic 15 years before COVID-19 hit. A submission by the foreign minister at the time, Alexander Downer, warned of the "significant risk" that H5N1 avian influenza could mutate into a virus easily transmissible between humans. The documents show that the government was aware of the potential risks of a pandemic, and the need for domestic planning and international cooperation to address the threat.
Early Evidence of Climate Wars
Finally, the documents show early evidence of the climate wars in 2005, with the adoption of nuclear energy being discussed as a way to reduce carbon emissions. The government was also subject to persistent criticism of climate policy, particularly from the Treasury. The documents show that the Howard government was aware of the need to address climate change, and the importance of finding a sustainable policy approach. However, the government’s handling of climate change would go on to be a major issue in the years that followed.
