Mr PEARCE (3:12 PM) —My question today is to the Attorney-General. Would the Attorney-General advise the House of the circumstances surrounding the sentencing of the first person convicted of terrorism related offences in Australia?

Mr RUDDOCK (Attorney-General) —This is a serious matter. The government does see the issue of terrorism and the potential harm it could wreak in Australia as a matter of very real significance. We are committed to pursuing those who threaten our citizens and our interests both here and abroad.

Yesterday, in the District Court in Western Australia, a judge sentenced a Mr Jack Roche to nine years jail, with a non-parole period of 4½ years following a guilty plea last week on charges relating to plotting to blow up the Israeli embassy. The Australian Federal Police, ASIO and the Director of Public Prosecutions collectively have dedicated a great deal of time and effort to this case, as observed by the judge. I would like to also add my thanks to all those officers involved. In this matter, the prosecution sought a sentence approaching the maximum penalty of 25 years for this offence. In sentencing, the judge alluded to the seriousness of the charges while acknowledging the cooperation more lately offered by Mr Roche.

It is worth emphasising for the benefit of the House that, despite contacting ASIO, it is known that Mr Roche continued plotting the bomb attacks beyond that point. Also, contrary to recent claims by his defence counsel that were repeated in some media reports, the court was told that information provided by Roche to authorities did not play a role in the arrest of the suspected Bali mastermind, Hambali, or the al-Qaeda operator, Muklas. This has been confirmed to me by our agencies.

The Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions is independent. It is a statutory office. I know that following my inquiries he is giving consideration to the merits of an appeal in relation to the severity of the sentence in this matter. I have asked for that report and, in exercising my responsibilities, I will be guided by his advice on that matter.

This case has reinforced our knowledge that Australia is not immune from the effects of international terrorism. We have known that since October 2002, when 80 Australians tragically died in the Sari Club in Bali. Evidence has emerged in this case that serves as a chilling reminder that extremists do exist and operate within Australia. We are a terrorist target because of who we are and what we stand for. The national security measures that we have adopted have been important in dealing with this.

There have been further developments today. The Australian Federal Police have charged a 34-year-old Sydney man, following an investigation by the Australian Federal Police's joint counterterrorism team. The counterterrorism officers arrested the man outside his Lakemba home this morning and formally charged him with one count of collecting or making documents likely to facilitate terrorist acts. The Sydney man is the first to be charged with this offence since the introduction of our counterterrorism legislation in 2002. The offence carries a maximum penalty of 15 years imprisonment. The arrest here follows a lengthy investigation involving collaborative efforts by ASIO, New South Wales Police and the Australian Federal Police. The matter will be before the court shortly, and I will not be commenting in detail on it. The man is to appear later this afternoon in the Central Local Court.