TONY ABBOTT'S NATIONAL SECURITY STATEMENT - KEY QUOTES
"There is no greater responsibility on me, on the government, than keeping you safe."
"The terrorist threat is rising at home and abroad and is becoming harder to combat."
"Today's terrorism requires little more than a camera phone, a knife and a victim."
"Police do not have the luxury to watch and wait. They apply their best judgment and they do so fully aware that the armchair critics will find fault."
"Frankly, I'd rather lose a case than lose a life. The protection of life must always rank ahead of the prospects of a successful prosecution."
"For too long, we have given those who might be a threat to our country the benefit of the doubt."
"We will never sacrifice our freedoms in order to defend them, but we will not let our enemies exploit our decency either."
"If immigration and border protection faces a choice to let in, or keep out, people with security questions over them we should choose to keep them out."
"If there is a choice between latitude for suspects or more powers to police and security agencies, more often we should choose to support our agencies."
"When it comes to someone like the Martin Place murderer, people feel like we have been taken for mugs."
"If we can stop hate-preachers from grooming gullible young people for terrorism, we should."
"People who come to this country are free to live as they choose provided they don't steal that same freedom from others."
"We cannot allow bad people to use our good nature against us."
"Now, I've often heard western leaders describe Islam as a religion of peace. I wish more Muslim leaders would say that more often, and mean it."
"I can't promise that terrorist atrocities won't ever again take place on Australian soil."
"We are doing our duty. That is what you have a right to expect and to demand of me and of us."
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