In light of the terrible events in Bondi, Sydney, yesterday, it's worth revisiting last month's Lowy Lecture by the head of Australia's domestic intelligence service, ASIO.
Burgess spoke at length about extremism and the potential for violence, but ended his remarks on a note of confidence about Australia's ability to meet the threat. Despite yesterday's tragedy, Burgess is still right about Australia's enduring strengths, which ought to give Australians a measure of reassurance today:
Despite the scale of these challenges, Australia is better placed than many other Western democracies to meet them. Our Parliaments are sovereign, our communities are resilient, our economy is growing. These attributes, along with others such as compulsory voting and a social safety net, are critical stabilisers and insulators. While the threats and challenges facing us are significant, they are not insurmountable.
