Australian state and territory leaders on Tuesday agreed to new counter-terrorism laws proposed by the federal government earlier this month, and measures to upgrade airport security recommended recently by a British airport security expert.

After a meeting of the Council of Australian Governments (CoAG) attended by state and territory leaders in Canberra, Australian Prime Minister John Howard said "There has been unanimous agreement coming out of the meeting for major changes that will enhance the security of this country."

Howard said the Commonwealth will provide 20 million Australian dollars (15.2 million US dollars) to fund a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear research facility to be established through the Australian Federal Police.

"As part of this proposal we will establish throughout Australia a network of laboratories which will have the capacity to analyze chemical substances in the context of our counter-terrorism behavior," he told reporters.

"In addition we are going to ask the national counter-terrorism committee, which is chaired by Duncan Lewis, the deputy secretary of my department, to commence work on developing a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear strategy, bearing in mind the potential challenge of those agencies and properties in the terrorist environment," he said.

The leaders also endorsed measures to upgrade security of Australian airports recommended recently by British security expert John Wheeler.

The measures include setting up a unified policing model at each of the 11 counter-terrorism first response airports across Australia, the federal government's funding of full-time community policing teams and the appointment of a police commander by a panel made up of state and territory representatives at each of these airports.

"We have agreed today on unusual laws for Australia, we have done that because we live in unusual circumstances," Howard said.

"In other circumstances I would never have sought these additional powers, I would never have asked the premiers of the Australian states to support me in enacting these laws," he said.

"But we do live in very dangerous and different and threatening circumstances and a strong and comprehensive response is needed," he said.

The leaders also agreed to the commonwealth's proposals in relation to control orders and preventative detention, which will require special legislation from the states.

"We have agreed on a review of this legislation after five years and sunset clause after 10 years," Howard said.

Source: Xinhua