Former ambassador to Indonesia Greg Moriarty named as new anti-terror coordinator

By James Bennett

Former ambassador to Indonesia Greg Moriarty has been confirmed as Australia's first anti-terrorism coordinator, as the Federal Government reveals further details of new counterterrorism laws.

Mr Moriarty spent four years in Jakarta and three years as Australia's ambassador in Iran, and also previously worked as an intelligence analyst.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott said the job was a "beefed-up role" that would operate across Australia's security organisations.

"It is important that we stay ahead of this game," he said.

"[Mr Moriarty] will not be directing the operations of the agency, of any particular agency, but he will have authority across agencies to ensure that all of the agencies are pulling together when it comes to this vital national security challenge.

"We must constantly evolve to meet an evolving terror threat and that's what today's announcements are all about." 

Mr Moriarty said he was preparing to do "vitally important work".

"I'm sure that I'll really develop a great set of relationships with the intelligence and security agencies, but also those important actors that are involved with countering violent extremism," he said.

As part of the new arrangements, Justice Minister Michael Keenan has been handed the new portfolio of Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Counterterrorism.

This week the Government is also expected to detail plans to strip citizenship from those promoting, supporting or taking part in terrorism, but Mr Abbott said it was not the Government's intention to leave people "stateless".

 "In the modern world it's not just people who are serving with an enemy army who are in a sense at odds with the whole nature of citizenship, but people who are working with terrorist organisations that hate our country, hate our way of life, hate our values," he said. 

"They have likewise put themselves outside the extended family of our nation."

Earlier this year Mr Abbott announced the Coalition would amend the Citizenship Act so that dual nationals could be stripped of their Australian citizenship if they had been promoting, supporting or taking part in terrorism.

The Coalition is considering a plan to include those with sole Australian citizenship.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said Labor would reserve its position until it saw the draft legislation.

"We obviously need to see the detail and we have asked the Prime Minister for a briefing on these matters to make sure we can make our ongoing consistent and constructive contribution," Mr Shorten said.

This article appeared 25 May in ABC News.