Fed: Defence wants more scientists
The Australian Defence Force is to recruit up to 10 new scientists to strengthen nationaldefences against chemical, biological and radiological threats.
Defence Minister ROBERT HILL says they'll be employed by the Defence Science and TechnologyOrganisation in the new Incident Response Regiment.
Senator HILL says there's a low risk of a chemical, biological or radiological attackin Australia.
But he says the terrorist attacks of September 11 show the need to be prepared forany contingency.
However, a key defence health official has cautioned against excessive hype.
The director of the joint health support agency, Captain ANDREW ROBERTSON says manyassertions about biological terrorism are equivalent to urban myths.
In the latest edition of the Army newspaper, he says claims of a likely multi-milliondeath toll from biological attack relate to a 1993 US assessment.
The assessment assumed 100 kilograms of military-grade anthrax spores could cause upto three million deaths.
But Captain ROBERTSON says even Iraq has never managed to produce military-grade anthrax.
AAP RTV mb/daw/gjr/rp
KEYWORD: GERM (CANBERRA)
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