Is there a better time for political opportunism than in the wake of a "terror" attack?

For Prime Minister John Key it seems not.

The gunsmoke had barely cleared from Sydney's Martin Pl, than he was doing the rounds of the media this morning.



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The Government tried to cash in on public fears when few facts were known regarding the events or gunman Man Haron Monis' motivation.

Key has previously said intelligence agencies were monitoring up to 40 wannabe jihadis, but until now has not offered verification or further details.

Now, he says they display "not identical but similar characteristics" to Monis. We are told they are "disenfranchised, sometimes mentally unwell, susceptible to the sorts of messages that Isis are pumping out."

New Zealand politicians have no direct interests in the cafe tragedy, but it presented an ideal opportunity to champion anti-terror laws, rushed through Parliament last week. As the hostages cowered in the Sydney city-centre cafe yesterday, MP Mark Mitchell was declaring New Zealand's law changes "100 per cent justified."

Just last week, Nils Muižnieks, The Council of Europe commissioner for human rights, offered a compelling counter-view.

He condemned "secret, massive and indiscriminate" surveillance being undertaken by the Five Eyes intelligence network, of which New Zealand is a part,saying it "cannot be justified by the fight against terrorism or other important threats to national security".

Now Key is attempt to shape the debate again - he needs to earn sympathy for a military deployment to Iraq early next year.

His grave tones on breakfast television this morning were reasonable. But he used rhetoric and sentiment commonly employed by US politicians justifying the War on Terror post-9/11, portraying those in his sights as irrational, barbaric and beyond compromise.

It dissuades critical examination and argument, with those questioning him labelled soft or naive.

Other than furthering his own political ends, his comments were unhelpful and serve only to unnecessarily heighten anxiety in the community.

Australia has not seen an immediate backlash in the wake of the siege. Rather, thousands of messages of support were posted online for Muslims.

Key's crass opportunism is a jarring contrast to the simple generosity of Australians who adopted #illridewithyou.

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