Hot Line
Ruddock probes identity leak of terrorism hotline tip
The Federal Government is investigating how the name and address of a man who phoned the national security hotline was released to the media.
The man says he contacted the hotline because of his suspicions about someone trying to buy a large quantity of chemicals.
After the raids last week, he says a reporter from The Australian newspaper came to his business and said he was able to identify him as a person who had phoned the hotline from information on a search warrant used in the arrests.
Mr Ruddock told Southern Cross radio he will be speaking to the Australian Federal Police (AFP) about the issue.
"It is a matter of very real concern for me and I'm going to see it is addressed," he said.
"Loose handling of this information can do enormous harm to the prosecution that we have under way and our capacity to handle future attempts at possible terrorist attacks."
Prime Minister John Howard says the matter will be investigated.
"I understand there is an allegation that things have got out, but that will be investigated in an appropriate way," he said.
"I obviously can't answer for the thousands of calls that are made but clearly it would be a matter of concern if calls were not treated in an anonymous fashion."
The damage bill from a series of fires believed to have been lit by detainees at the Baxter immigration detention centre is more than $2 million, Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone has said.
One detainee was taken to hospital and five others were treated for smoke inhalation on Saturday as a result of four fires.
The fire gutted 34 bedrooms and forced the evacuation of 58 detainees at the South Australian facility.
The fires destroyed bedrooms of the facility's white one compound, its kitchen, laundry, recreational area and an officers' station.
There was also extensive smoke and water damage to the compound.
Senator Vanstone said the 58 residents of the white one compound were single men of varying nationalities who were mostly visa overstayers or had visas cancelled on character grounds.
They were now living in other areas of the Baxter facility.
"This arrangement will be under constant review and we will take our advice from the AFP," Senator Vanstone said.
There have been no further incidents reported at Baxter since Saturday's blazes.
The Federal Government is investigating how the name and address of a man who phoned the national security hotline was released to the media.
The man says he contacted the hotline because of his suspicions about someone trying to buy a large quantity of chemicals.
After the raids last week, he says a reporter from The Australian newspaper came to his business and said he was able to identify him as a person who had phoned the hotline from information on a search warrant used in the arrests.
Mr Ruddock told Southern Cross radio he will be speaking to the Australian Federal Police (AFP) about the issue.
"It is a matter of very real concern for me and I'm going to see it is addressed," he said.
"Loose handling of this information can do enormous harm to the prosecution that we have under way and our capacity to handle future attempts at possible terrorist attacks."
Prime Minister John Howard says the matter will be investigated.
"I understand there is an allegation that things have got out, but that will be investigated in an appropriate way," he said.
"I obviously can't answer for the thousands of calls that are made but clearly it would be a matter of concern if calls were not treated in an anonymous fashion."
The damage bill from a series of fires believed to have been lit by detainees at the Baxter immigration detention centre is more than $2 million, Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone has said.
One detainee was taken to hospital and five others were treated for smoke inhalation on Saturday as a result of four fires.
The fire gutted 34 bedrooms and forced the evacuation of 58 detainees at the South Australian facility.
The fires destroyed bedrooms of the facility's white one compound, its kitchen, laundry, recreational area and an officers' station.
There was also extensive smoke and water damage to the compound.
Senator Vanstone said the 58 residents of the white one compound were single men of varying nationalities who were mostly visa overstayers or had visas cancelled on character grounds.
They were now living in other areas of the Baxter facility.
"This arrangement will be under constant review and we will take our advice from the AFP," Senator Vanstone said.
There have been no further incidents reported at Baxter since Saturday's blazes.
posted by professor rat at 10:39 PM
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