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| Down Under |
| Australia names new chief spy in security reshuffle |
| 2005-07-10 |
| SYDNEY - Australian Prime Minister John Howard announced a reshuffle of his key intelligence and security staff on Sunday, including the appointment of a foreign affairs specialist as the head of the nationâs chief spy agency. Howard said Paul OâSullivan, a deputy secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and adviser on his staff, would take over as director general of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO). Australia had been without an ASIO director general since former head Dennis Richardson was appointed in May as Australiaâs next ambassador to the United States. But Howard moved quickly to install a new chief spy after Thursdayâs deadly bomb blasts on the London transport system. âHeâll do a first-class job, heâs got the right balance of foreign affairs experience, intelligence background ... but also having worked at the very highest level of government,â Howard told Nine Network television. Nick Warner, who headed Australiaâs emergency response team sent to Baghdad after Australian Douglas Wood was taken hostage by insurgents, was also elevated to Howardâs staff. Warner has a high profile in the South Pacific region after after winning respect as the leader of an intervention force sent to restore order in the lawless Solomon Islands two years ago. Howard, who said he had spoken to British Prime Minister Tony Blair and attended a church service for victims on Sunday, said it was possible transport security measures could be tightened after Tuesdayâs meeting. âI donât rule out a further strengthening of security measures,â he said. âI cannot credibly guarantee there will not be an attack on our soil, itâs a sad reality that we are a target,â he said. |
| Posted by:Steve White |