Australian military expanding domestic terrorism aid

July 17 (UPI) -- Australian Defense Forces are to increase their support to state and local governments when responding to terrorist incidents.

The expanded ADF role, announced Monday by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Defense Minister Marise Payne, includes specialized training by special forces troops for law enforcement teams.

Also included will be the pre-positioning of personnel in the law enforcement agencies of State and Territory Governments for liaison engagement work, the government strengthening of Part IIIAAA of the Defense Act to remove some constraints in the provisions to "call out" the ADF to assist states and territories, and the removal of the provision that currently limits states and territories from asking for ADF support and specialist military skills until their own capability or capacity has been exceeded.

"The overhaul will make it easier for Defense to work together with Federal, State and Territory Police in the event of a terrorist incident," they said in a joint statement.

"State and Territory Police Forces remain the best first response to terrorist incidents immediately after an attack starts," they said, continuing that "Defense can offer more support to states and territories to enhance their capabilities."

"We cannot afford to take a 'set and forget' mentality on national security," the joint statement concluded. "We must constantly review and update our responses to the threat of terrorism."