In mid-October 2003, the Attorney-General announced the creation of a new National Threat Assessment Centre (NTAC), to be housed within ASIO and staffed by secondees from police, security and other relevant agencies. As a 24-hour unit dedicated to analysing threats to the security of Australian interests here and overseas, the establishment of the NTAC is a positive move. However, the unexplained omission of several agencies critical to the fight against terrorism is somewhat puzzling.