David Johnston (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Justice and Customs) Share this | Hansard source

Again, I thank the learned senator. The new phase of the campaign was being developed prior to the failed UK car-bombing incidents and the attack on Glasgow airport. The recent events in the UK serve as a reminder of the need to remain vigilant. Since it was launched in December 2002, the national security public information campaign has been, as I have said, very successful. I do not have—but I can provide them to the learned senator—the answers specifically on the cost of the current campaign, but I have indicated we have had approximately 100,000 calls. Around half the calls received by the hotline have been referred to the Australian Federal Police, ASIO and the relevant state and territory police. A substantial number of these calls—and that is as far as I wish to take it—have contributed to existing investigations or initiated new investigations. In the budget of 2007-08, some $20 million over two years was allocated to engaging the Australian public in counterterrorism efforts and to promoting the national security hotline. (Time expired)