Australia terror

CANBERRA, Australia, Feb. 23 (UPI) -- Australia faces a permanent alert regarding terrorism -- both"'home-grown" and outside -- stemming from Islamist radicalism, a government white paper states.

Australian authorities issued the document Tuesday, with Prime Minister Kevin Rudd concluding, "The threat of home-grown terrorism is now increasing.

"This white paper is clear: Some of the threat we now face comes from the Australian-born, Australian-educated and Australian residents."

Australia is also concerned about threats from outside and announced plans to increase measures regarding visitors from 10 countries, which it is yet to disclose. Authorities will spend about $60 million on equipment related to increased face scanning and fingerprinting of people from those countries.

The threat from terrorism was "permanent" and "persistent," the prime minister said, adding: "Prior to the rise of jihadist terrorism, Australia was not a specific target. Now Australia is."

Rudd said: "Terrorism continues to pose a serious threat and a serious challenge to Australia's security interests. That threat is not diminishing."