One Nation party leader Pauline Hanson is spearheading a new bill in the Australian Parliament intended to prevent citizens with links to terror organizations, such as ISIS, from returning to the country. The proposed legislation, titled the Protecting Australians from Foreign Terrorist Fighters Bill, was sent to crossbenchers on Wednesday.
Hanson stated that the bill is a direct response to comments from the Home Affairs Minister, Tony Burke, who suggested that existing law might compel him to allow the return of ISIS fighters, including one previously thought to be deceased. "That is not good enough. If the law prevents a minister from protecting Australians, parliament must change the law," Hanson said.
The bill, which is 22 pages long, along with a 17-page explanation, is scheduled for presentation to Parliament on August 11. Hanson indicated that the bill aims to make it difficult for Australians who have participated in overseas terror cells to return, describing it as potentially "court proof."
The proposed law would introduce several key measures: creating an exclusion order for foreign terror fighters, toughening bail conditions for terror offenses, halting the automatic issuance of return permits while terror-related court cases are ongoing, and criminalizing assistance in an illegal return to Australia.
Hanson acknowledged that the Opposition is developing its own bill but contended that it does not adequately address the core issue of preventing ISIS-linked individuals from entering Australia. "A bill that cannot prevent foreign terrorist fighters from returning does not adequately protect Australians," she wrote in a letter to crossbenchers.
Under Hanson's bill, home affairs ministers could seek a Federal Court order to block a return if the individual voluntarily served, participated in, or materially supported a listed terrorist organization, poses an unacceptable risk to Australians, and cannot be managed through less restrictive means. The minister would not be required to consider a return permit during the Federal Court's deliberation.
The bill also proposes that factors such as childcare, family circumstances, accommodation, or electronic monitoring would not be considered sufficient grounds for granting bail in terror-related cases. A proposed amendment to the Criminal Code would impose a sentence of up to 10 years imprisonment for anyone convicted of aiding an illegal return.
Hanson expressed a desire to work collaboratively with the crossbench, inviting comments and proposed amendments to strengthen the legislation.
