Twenty years on from September 11, Tasmania can consider itself one of the safest places in the world when it comes to terrorism.
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Tasmania Police Special Response and Counter Terrorism Unit Commander Joanne Stolp said in the 20 years since the attacks, the police force had continually adapted and responded to developments and intelligence interstate and internationally, leaving Tasmania well placed to mitigate any possible attack.
"Tasmania has the capability and capacity to respond to the threat of terrorism and in the event of an attack," she said.
"Our counter-terrorism preparedness arrangements are well developed and aligned with national doctrine, with Tasmania Police maintaining counter-terrorism capabilities consistent with national and state arrangements."
While Commander Stolp is now at the forefront of counter-terrorism in Tasmania, when September 11 unfolded she was left as horrified as anyone.
She was sitting at home on September 11 when her mum told her to turn the TV on, oblivious to the fact 20 years later she would be leading the state's response to terrorism.
Like most, Commander Stolp looked on in devastation at the events unfolding before her as she "struggled to comprehend the enormity of what had occurred".
At the time Commander Stolp was a five-year Constable with Tasmania Police working at Glenorchy CIB.
When she showed up to work the day following the night of the attacks, the station was a different place.
At work we would normally hold a group 'read out', but instead gathered around the television and talked about what this meant for us, for Australia, and for the world.
- Commander Joanne Stolp
"I'm not sure any of us had any inkling of what the next 20 years would bring. I certainly never pictured that this area would be my bailiwick to look after."
While Commander Stolp and her colleagues watched on in disbelief, Acting Premier Paul Lennon informed the state on what was next. Flags around Tasmania would fly at half mast for the next week.
Like most Constables in Tasmania Police at that time, Commander Stolp had the surface-level understanding of counter-terrorism required of a police officer with the capacity for negotiation.
But she said reflecting on the events of 9/11 in their immediate aftermath, her thoughts were transfixed on the fact even her training might not have helped in regard to the method by which the attacks were carried out.
My first thoughts revolved around that and the lack of opportunity for that skill to be used in this instance.
- Commander Joanne Stolp
The reverberations of the attack were felt across the world, and counter-terrorism techniques changed and adapted almost instantly. Although it was the tragic Bali bombings in October of 2002, and their close proximity to Australia, that saw Tasmania Police's response come most fervently.
The Counter Terrorism Unit was set up by Commander Tony Mulder as part of a national approach to counter-terrorism, guided by how it was done internationally.
Commander Stolp said that collaborative effort had since become ensconced in how Tasmania Police carried out its counter-terrorism policing.
"The focus, by state, territory and federal policing and intelligence agencies has further developed after each attack to pro-actively disrupt, deter, prevent and respond to attacks in a coordinated and interoperable fashion," she said.
She said the state remained a member of the Australia-New Zealand Counter-Terrorism Committee, which was created in the wake of the Bali Bombings "in order to revise counter-terrorism arrangements".
And from there is where the police force continued to develop its response from, and that response was continually responding to new and developing intelligence on terrorism.
While counter-terrorism may look different to what it did 20 years ago, Commander Stolp said Tasmania Police had made a point of staying ahead of the curve.
The Special Operations Group, bomb response, negotiators, dignitary protection, investigation, intelligence, bomb scene examination and forensics are all subject to regular training to keep it that way.
"Specialist counter-terrorism capabilities are developed and maintained through national exercises, skills enhancement courses and workshops, as well as the purchase of specialist equipment," Commander Stolp said.
"Australia's current national terrorism threat level is 'probable'. This means that credible intelligence, assessed by our security agencies, indicates that individuals or groups have the intent and capability to conduct a terrorist attack in Australia.
"Tasmania is one of the safest places in the world, but we can never become complacent. Previous events have shown us that we are not immune."
The public should always exercise caution, and can report any suspicious incidents to the National Security Hotline on 1800 123 400.
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