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NSW terrorism hotline got five calls in two months, estimates told NSW terrorism hotline got five calls in two months, estimates told
(35 minutes later)
A multimillion dollar government hotline for parents who fear their children are being “radicalised” only received “around five phone calls” in the two months after it launched.A multimillion dollar government hotline for parents who fear their children are being “radicalised” only received “around five phone calls” in the two months after it launched.
Announced in June by the New South Wales minister for counter-terrorism, David Elliot, the Step Together program cost $3.9m over three years.Announced in June by the New South Wales minister for counter-terrorism, David Elliot, the Step Together program cost $3.9m over three years.
It was part of a suite of measures announced in the wake of the fatal shooting of police employee Curtis Cheng.It was part of a suite of measures announced in the wake of the fatal shooting of police employee Curtis Cheng.
But in a NSW budget estimates hearing Paul Daniell, a director in the NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet, conceded that the program had been slow to make an impact.But in a NSW budget estimates hearing Paul Daniell, a director in the NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet, conceded that the program had been slow to make an impact.
“I think it is about five calls that have been received by the service provider,” he admitted under questioning.“I think it is about five calls that have been received by the service provider,” he admitted under questioning.
He said the program’s website was “receiving 20 to 30 hits” each day,He said the program’s website was “receiving 20 to 30 hits” each day,
Daniell blamed the slow uptake on a “cautious marketing approach” but the ABC quoted an anonymous source who said the hotline had been almost entirely misused: “one call was a wrong number, the other was a parent worried their kid was dating a Muslim.”Daniell blamed the slow uptake on a “cautious marketing approach” but the ABC quoted an anonymous source who said the hotline had been almost entirely misused: “one call was a wrong number, the other was a parent worried their kid was dating a Muslim.”
The comments came after questions from Greens MP Mehreen Faruqi about what measures the NSW government had taken to combat rightwing extremism.The comments came after questions from Greens MP Mehreen Faruqi about what measures the NSW government had taken to combat rightwing extremism.
Elliott said in the hearing that it was “very clear that the vast majority of people who are victims of terrorism in the United States are victims from the extreme right”.Elliott said in the hearing that it was “very clear that the vast majority of people who are victims of terrorism in the United States are victims from the extreme right”.
“It is also forgotten quite regularly in this type of debate that the majority of victims of terrorism in the world are Muslims,” he said.“It is also forgotten quite regularly in this type of debate that the majority of victims of terrorism in the world are Muslims,” he said.
Daniell insisted that the Step Together program had been “designed to include all forms of violent extremism”.Daniell insisted that the Step Together program had been “designed to include all forms of violent extremism”.
However, he said the hotline had “not had any calls yet from anyone relating to rightwing violent extremism for that service”.However, he said the hotline had “not had any calls yet from anyone relating to rightwing violent extremism for that service”.
The $3.9m hotline was part of a broader $47m program designed to fight radicalisation.The $3.9m hotline was part of a broader $47m program designed to fight radicalisation.
When it was launched Elliott stressed the hotline was “a support line, not a report line”, but admitted counsellors at the service could pass information on to authorities if they became aware of a serious or imminent risk.When it was launched Elliott stressed the hotline was “a support line, not a report line”, but admitted counsellors at the service could pass information on to authorities if they became aware of a serious or imminent risk.
“If your loved one is showing signs of violent extremism ... it’s better now you get advice and seek support than in the future when they could be facing a lifetime in prison,” he said at the time.“If your loved one is showing signs of violent extremism ... it’s better now you get advice and seek support than in the future when they could be facing a lifetime in prison,” he said at the time.
But Muslim groups argued the hotline would only “exacerbate the paranoia and anxiety” in the community.But Muslim groups argued the hotline would only “exacerbate the paranoia and anxiety” in the community.
Greg Barton, a counter-terrorism expert from Deakin University, said the program had been “well intentioned” but that it had “suffered from association” because it was launched under the counter terrorism portfolio.
“Clearly the perception has been that because it’s coming out of the minister of counter terrorism that it’s part of an intelligence gathering exercise,” he said.
“It’s obviously not going to work if people see it as securitisation and intelligence gathering.”
Barton said the program was “redeemable”, but should be shifted into the social services portfolio.
“We certainly know anecdotally that there is a desire for a service like this,” he said.
“On the one hand families don’t like securitisation and the community being demonised, but they’re also very worried about their kids being stolen away from them without them seeing it.
“There’s genuine anxiety on both sides.”