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AUSTRALIA'S terrorist alert level has been raised from medium to high, with the risk of an attack on the nation's soil now officially considered likely. Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) director-general David Irvine said yesterday a terrorist attack could manifest itself in a ''Bali-style'' atrocity, but Prime Minister Tony Abbott insisted lifting the threat level was not based on any particular plots. Mr Abbott told Fairfax Media he was confident Australian authorities were "smarter than terrorists and would-be terrorists" and would remain "one step ahead" of their malice. He stressed raising the terror threat level did not mean a terror attack was imminent, but meant there were people in Australia with the intent and capability to carry out an attack. It is the first time the threat has been raised to high since Australia's National Public Alert Level System was introduced in 2003. Tasmania Police Deputy Commissioner Scott Tilyard said there was no specific threat to the state or its citizens, with looming conflict in the Middle East a critical factor in raising the terror alarm. Mr Tilyard insisted Tasmania Police had the necessary resources to respond to an attack, and could also rely on resources from other states, territories and the Commonwealth Government should the need arise. He said officers would be ramping up patrols of government buildings and at sporting and large public events. Security will also be beefed up at critical infrastructure such as airports and ports. Mr Tilyard said Tasmanians must be vigilant to suspicious activities. ''Generally speaking its behaviour or conduct don't feel right about or don't feel comfortable about,'' he said. ''If you saw someone videoing in unusual locations or leaving parcels unattended, particularly in places with large numbers of people or on public transport, those sorts of activities should be reported to police or the national security hotline.'' Mr Tilyard said in coming days Tasmania Police will formally request the Australian Federal Police review its decision to withdraw officers from the state's airports next month. Twenty-seven Australian Federal Police officers are set to vacate Hobart International Airport on October 21, with Launceston Airport also to lose regular patrols from AFP officers in light of a federal government directive. An AFP spokesperson said this week any changes to the terror threat would not alter the decision, but Mr Tilyard said the withdrawal was now considered completely inappropriate given the threat level had been officially raised. Tasmania Police is set to take over the duties should the AFP pull out, but officers would not be permanently rostered at the airport, instead monitoring the site as part of routine patrols. Hobart would be left as Australia's only capital city without a permanent police presence at its airport - a development the police union has warned could undermine security. Meanwhile, Tasmania Police's Special Response and Counter-Terrorism Unit have been liaising with the state government to ensure a ''coordinated capability and capacity'' should a terrorist attack take place. Police Minister Rene Hidding said that in most cases Tasmanians would not notice any difference as a result of the raised alert level. It is unknown how long the alert may remain high. For further information visit: www.nationalsecurity.gov.au or the TasALERT website: www.alert.tas.gov.au Report any unusual or suspicious activity to the National Security Hotline on 1800 1234 00 or the Police Assistance Line 131 444. For life threatening or emergency situations, ring 000.

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