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No change in anti-terror stance: Brandis

Attorney-General George Brandis says there has been no change in Australia's anti-terror commitment since the change of prime minister.

Attorney-General George Brandis
Attorney-General George Brandis says there has been no change in Australia's anti-terror commitment. (AAP)

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Source: AAP


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Australia's commitment to be an active participant in the war against terror hasn't changed one iota since the change of prime minister, Attorney-General George Brandis says.

Speaking in London exactly four weeks after the terror attacks in Paris, Senator Brandis also said British security agencies MI5 and MI6 believe their collaboration with counterpart Australian agencies is the best intelligence relationship in the entire world.

The attorney-general has been in the UK to discuss and reinforce counter-terrorism cooperation and on Saturday flies to the Middle East for talks on the terror threat with Israeli and Jordanian ministers and officials.

He told reporters on Friday there had been no change in Australia's stance on terrorism.

"The British know that Australia has been a very strong partner in the war against terrorism," he said.

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"The determination and commitment of the Turnbull government to be an active and effective participant in that battle hasn't changed one iota from the days of Mr Abbott."

Senator Brandis said that following talks with British Home Secretary Theresa May, the head of MI6 and the deputy director-general of MI5 he was assured they regarded Australia as an excellent collaborator.

"I said to them is there any respect in which the level of cooperation that Australia gives you could be improved and they said, 'no, we think this is frankly our best intelligence relationship in the entire world'."

"The level of cooperation between ASIO, MI5 and MI6 and our respective national police forces as well is in very, very good shape," Senator Brandis said.

He said Australia's national interest lay in recognising that the Islamic State group presented a threat on the streets of Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, not just in the Middle East.


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