Posted June 10, 2017 16:36:07

Photo: Business owner, Sri Naroju, says he will help authorities in counter-terrorism investigations if he has support. (ABC News: Elena de Bruijne)

The New South Wales Counter Terrorism Minister, David Elliot, is calling for more non-government organisations to report suspicious customer behaviour to intelligence agencies

Mr Elliot said recent attacks in the United Kingdom and in Australia have been perpetrated by people who had terrorism links but were not being monitored by authorities.

"Their day to day activities are often under the radar ... people that may have been known to police or authorities or agencies but because they are on the lower end of the spectrum they haven't necessarily been front of mind for them," Mr Elliot said.

He said non-government organisations that have daily contact with the public could help intelligence authorities by reporting suspicious behaviour.

"Most terrorist attacks in recent years have involved, tragically, private sector corporations," he said.

Already banks, airlines and the gaming sector have reporting channels in place.

Damien Kelly from the Chamber of Commerce said businesses are on board in principle but will need more information about what they would be expected to report.

"The business community through the Business Chamber stands ready to assist in anyway we can but first of all we need that dialogue to find out exactly what sort of information the police and counter terrorism authorities are looking for and then we can properly work out how we can help," he said.

The NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said if businesses increase their communications with authorities, the privacy of ordinary Australians may be impacted.

"I think all of us accept that individually we may need to give up a bit of privacy to keep everyone safe," she said.

Sri Naroju, who manages a car rental business in Westmead, said he was happy to do whatever he can to help the authorities in counter terrorism investigations.

Mr Naroju said his business turns away anyone who seems suspicious or attempts to use false documents.

"There's only so much we can do, but we try our best not to release the car to the suspicious people," he said.

Topics: business-economics-and-finance, small-business, terrorism, states-and-territories, state-parliament, parliament, nsw