Australia’s terrorism threat lowered
Global broker Aon’s latest terrorism threat map shows a more settled outlook for Australia. North America and Europe are also seen as less threatened.
The map also shows a shift in terrorist activity to southern Asia from the Middle East where, like the West, counter-terrorism capabilities have improved.
Thailand, a popular tourist destination for Australians, is showing higher levels of activity, as are Pakistan, India, Afghanistan and Nepal.
Aon Executive Director Craig Preston told insuranceNEWS.com.au the improved outlook for Australia indicates the Australian Government has had “quite a strong hold on the threat” for some time.
“They have strict border controls and sophisticated and capable security services,” he said. “The last counter-terrorism operation there was almost a year ago, in Melbourne. That is not to say there isn’t still a threat from jihadists.”
Mr Preston says he cannot comment on whether Aon’s analysis is likely to affect rates for terrorism cover which is provided by the Australian Reinsurance Pool Corporation.
“An assortment of Islamic Malay separatist groups are behind most of the violence in southern Thailand,” he said, adding that Aon is not able to comment on how this might affect travel insurance rates.
The recent Indian elections led to a significant spike in attacks, with 65 terrorist incidents recorded there in April.
Aon says a new generation of terrorists on the far right and left could be spawned in the developed world by the global recession and on the far right in the US following the election of a more liberal president.
The map also shows a shift in terrorist activity to southern Asia from the Middle East where, like the West, counter-terrorism capabilities have improved.
Thailand, a popular tourist destination for Australians, is showing higher levels of activity, as are Pakistan, India, Afghanistan and Nepal.
Aon Executive Director Craig Preston told insuranceNEWS.com.au the improved outlook for Australia indicates the Australian Government has had “quite a strong hold on the threat” for some time.
“They have strict border controls and sophisticated and capable security services,” he said. “The last counter-terrorism operation there was almost a year ago, in Melbourne. That is not to say there isn’t still a threat from jihadists.”
Mr Preston says he cannot comment on whether Aon’s analysis is likely to affect rates for terrorism cover which is provided by the Australian Reinsurance Pool Corporation.
“An assortment of Islamic Malay separatist groups are behind most of the violence in southern Thailand,” he said, adding that Aon is not able to comment on how this might affect travel insurance rates.
The recent Indian elections led to a significant spike in attacks, with 65 terrorist incidents recorded there in April.
Aon says a new generation of terrorists on the far right and left could be spawned in the developed world by the global recession and on the far right in the US following the election of a more liberal president.