Tony Abbott says new categories – certain, expected, probable, possible and not expected – easier to understand than extreme, high, medium and low

This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

Australia’s terrorism alert level system will be changed to make it easier to understand.

On Thursday Tony Abbott announced the new five-tier system, agreed to by the Council of Australian governments (Coag) meeting in Sydney.

The prime minister said he hoped the new levels – certain, expected, probable, possible and not expected – would be simpler to comprehend.

The current categories are extreme, high, medium and low.

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Australia’s threat level was upgraded to high last year, two months before the Sydney siege, when Man Haron Monis took 18 people hostage in the Lindt Cafe.

Three people died, including Monis.

A clearer system was recommended by the government’s review of Australia’s counter-terrorism machinery in February, and will be in place by the end of the year.

If the level is upgraded, the government will issue a statement explaining what the new threat means, including where the threat is coming from, potential targets and how an attack may be carried out.

Abbott announced the changes while releasing Australia’s counter-terrorism strategy, which was also approved by Coag. It focuses on five main areas, including challenging violent extremist ideologies and stopping people from becoming terrorists.

Governments have committed to countering extremist ideology and promoting “values that underpin our society”, while working with family and friends of those at risk of radicalisation.

The governments agreed Australians faced the “most significant” threat from terrorism in the nation’s history.

Since the terrorism alert was raised to high there have been two attacks, another six have reportedly been disrupted and 23 people have been charged after counter-terrorism operations.

The government estimates at least 120 Australians are fighting in Syria and Iraq and another 160 actively support terrorist groups, such as Islamic State (Isis), through financing and recruiting.