Taxpayers foot $20bn bill for war on terror

June 16, 2008

AUSTRALIAN taxpayers have forked out almost $20 billion to protect the country from Islamic terrorists since September 11, 2001.

New figures show that by 2011 the Federal Government will have invested more than $17 billion in direct measures to beef up national security since the brazen al-Qaeda terrorist attacks against the US.

Following the attacks the Howard Government invoked the ANZUS Treaty and committed Australia to wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.