Assistance to victims of past overseas terrorist attacks

Govt of Australia press release

Senator the Hon George Brandis QC

Attorney-General

The Hon Alan Tudge MP

Minister for Human Services

Today we announce the Turnbull Government has declared 20 past overseas incidents as ‘terrorist acts’ for the purpose of the Australian Victim of Terrorism Overseas Payment (AVTOP) scheme.
This declaration means eligible Australian residents harmed as a direct result of these attacks may be able to seek a one-off payment of up to $75,000.
Today’s announcement follows a Government review of historical incidents, many of which occurred prior to the commencement of the AVTOP scheme.
The declaration of these attacks brings the total number of overseas terrorist acts declared by the Australian Government to 33.
The Australian Government’s AVTOP scheme ensures Australian victims of terrorist events overseas have access to financial support. It is an important acknowledgement of their pain and suffering.
Information on declared attacks and how to apply for financial assistance through AVTOP is available at humanservices.gov.au or by calling 1800 040 226.
The 20 past incidents declared as overseas terrorist acts are:

Suicide bombing of a police station at Taksim Square in Istanbul, Turkey – 10 September 2001
Grenade attack at the Protestant International Church in the Diplomatic Enclave in Islamabad, Pakistan – 17 March 2002
Car bombing at a checkpoint leading into the village of Khormal near the town of Halabja, Iraq – 22 March 2003
Bombings at the Al-Jedawal compound, the Al-Hamra compound, and a complex housing staff working for US Defence firm Vinnell Corporation in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – 12 May 2003
Small arms assault on IOM- and UN-marked vehicles travelling on highway 8 from Baghdad toward Hilla, Iraq – 20 July 2003
Suicide bombing outside the JW Marriot Hotel, Jakarta, Indonesia – 5 August 2003
Bombing at United Nations Headquarters at the Canal Hotel, in Baghdad, Iraq – 19 August 2003
Bombing at the British Consulate, located in the Beyoglu district in Istanbul, Turkey – 20 November 2003
Small arms assault on the Louis Berger Group Inc. helicopter at Thaloqan, Kandahar Province, Afghanistan – 22 February 2004
Small arms assault on the ABB Lummus Yanbu Oil Refinery in Yanbu’ al Bahr, Saudi Arabia – 1 May 2004
Armed assault and hostage taking at the APICORP oil company compounds and Oasis residential complex in Al-Khubar, Saudi Arabia – 29 to 30 May 2004
Three bombings in Dehli, India – attack at the Paharganj market; Sarojini Nagar market; and a Delhi Transport Corporation Outer Mudrika bus in the Govindpuri area – 29 October 2005
Suicide bombing outside the offices of the Governor of Paktia Province, Afghanistan – 10 September 2006
Small arms assault and suicide bombing in Khogyani village, in Khogyani District of Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan – 29 April 2008
Bombing at the Shitla ghat public bathing spot on the Ganges River, Varanasi, India – 7 December 2010
Suicide bombing outside a Shia mosque in the Murriabad area of Quetta, Pakistan – 31 August 2011
Kidnapping of an individual for ransom committed by the Abu Sayyaf Group in Mindanao, Philippines – 5 December 2011 to 22 March 2013
Bombings outside the Taqwa mosque and the al-Salam mosque in Tripoli, Lebanon – 23 August 2013
Kidnapping from a bus, and subsequent torture and murder of an individual travelling from Ghazni province to Kabul, Afghanistan – 20 September 2014
Small arms assault and hostage taking at the Bardo National Museum in Tunis, Tunisia – 18 March 2015