Terrorism fight 'will last for decades'

Mr Howard said the threat posed by the “menace of Islamic fanaticism” was real, constant and insidious."

He warned the nation to wake-up to the reality such “borderless assault” was a global threat to society and the carefree lifestyle that Australians cherish.

“Make no mistake, Islamic fanaticism hates the way of life we have, it is dedicated to the destruction not only of freedom of religion, but freedom of the way of life we believe in so strongly," Mr Howard said in Tasmania this morning.

“Their enemy is the free way of life we hold dear, their weapons are unprecedented, they involve a borderless assault on the way of life and the beliefs we hold dear."

The Prime Minister said he understood that most people would rather not think about terrorism and just get on with their lives.

He agreed this resistance was an important way to fight terrorism.

But he said that Australia could not pick and choose when or where to fight terrorism.

In an apparent reference to the charging yesterday of Gold Coast doctor Mohamed Haneef on charges of providing support to a terrorism organisation, the Prime Minister warned Australians never to relax.

“Just as we seemed to be taking our mind off the issue and seemed to be relaxing into a new and different era, we are reminded of the ever-present threat,’’ Mr Howard said.

“It is insidious; it is based on principles of religious fanaticism which should have no place in our society and no echo in any part of the Australian nation.’’

Mr Howard also hit back at civil rights critics who have questioned the time that Dr Haneef was held in a Brisbane jail without charge

Without specifically mentioning the Dr Haneef case, the Prime Minister told the Tasmanian Liberal Party conference in Launceston that the new anti-terrorism laws, which allow terrorism suspects to be held for longer periods of time without charge, were necessary to fight the “new and ever-threatening menace” of terrorism.

“(It) requires western society, while observing at all times the law which is a cornerstone of our society, to adopt new and more effective methods such as we have done in Australia with our anti-terror laws," Mr Howard said.

Mr Howard later refused to discuss specifically the charges brought against Dr Haneef.

But he reminded Australians that the Indian doctor was entitled to the presumption of innocence.

He complimented Australian Federal Police on their work, and said the allegations made against Dr Haneef were a reminder that terrorism was a global threat and that Australia’s strong anti-terror laws were both needed and justified.

Mr Howard said he was prepared the strengthen the anti-terror laws if necessary in the future.