Australia Reviews Terror Alert System Amid Threat Concerns
ASIO and the Home Affairs Minister say the decade-old system needs clearer ways to communicate threat levels to the public.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Terrorism
ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess said a review of Australia's terror alert system is underway, with Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke saying the system needs a clearer way to communicate threats. The current system moves from 'possible' to 'probable' when there is more than a 50 per cent chance of an attack being planned in the next 12 months.
Why it matters
Mr Burgess and Mr Burke have said the decade-old system is too blunt and fails to convey the seriousness of threats to the public. Mr Burke said there is a gap between 'probable' and 'expected' with no easy way to communicate threats that are growing more serious but are not yet imminent.
The alert system is governed by thresholds of 50 per cent likelihood over 12 months for 'probable' and specific imminent intelligence for 'expected'. The review's findings and any revised alert categories remain unresolved.
The players
Mike Burgess
Mike Burgess is the Director-General of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), Australia's domestic intelligence agency, and has been a prominent public voice on national security threats.
Tony Burke
Tony Burke is Australia's Home Affairs Minister, responsible for the portfolio that oversees national security, border protection and counter-terrorism policy.
Counter Terrorism Online Centre
The Counter Terrorism Online Centre is a national Australian centre dedicated to detecting and disrupting online violent extremism and terrorism.
The details
The review is examining how to provide the community with accurate, easily digestible information about threat levels. Mr Burgess will consult States and Territories on the outcome, and Mr Burke would like Five Eyes partners to adopt the same alert system.
Timeline
14 December: Australia was at the 'probable' level when 15 people were killed in an alleged terrorist attack on a Jewish event at Bondi Beach.
June: Mr Burgess used the annual threat assessment to say 'probable' does not tell the full story.
May: $74 million was allocated in the budget for the Counter Terrorism Online Centre.
Next week: Review results are to be briefed to the Minister.
This week: The Counter Terrorism Online Centre begins operations.
Legal Context
The review tests whether Australia's existing five-tier threat framework, in use for about a decade, still serves the public as threats grow more serious without becoming imminent. It also raises whether Five Eyes partners should adopt a common alert system.
Any change to the alert system would alter the threat-level information Australians receive and how authorities describe risk in public communications. The review's outcome will determine whether those alert categories are revised for everyday use.
The takeaway
Australians should expect the threat alert system to be reviewed and potentially revised, and clearer communication of threat levels may follow. Keeping up with official government and security agency updates is the best way to track changes.
What happens next
Mr Burgess's review results are to be briefed to the Minister next week, and Mr Burgess will then consult States and Territories on the outcome.
Further reading
For more background, explore the latest coverage in our Terrorism section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Kalgoorlie Miner.
