Abbott Warns of Jail Terms for Returning Australian Extremists
Local Editor
Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott on Monday warned Australians fighting with extremist groups in the Middle East that they would face lengthy jail terms if they return home.
Abbott told parliament in a statement on national security, "My unambiguous message to all Australians who fight with terrorist groups is that you will be arrested, prosecuted and jailed for a very long time."
Australia has announced tougher counter-terrorism laws to target home-grown terrorists and those who fight overseas over fears extremist citizens in Syria and Iraq will return home.
Following the biggest security crackdown in Australian history last Thursday which saw more than 800 police officers raid nearly 30 homes, Abbott further said, "Our laws are being changed to make it easier to keep potential terrorists off our streets."
The government said it had foiled a plot by so-called "Daesh" [ISIL] extremists to carry out gruesome "demonstration executions" in Australia.
Abbott said 60 Australians were known to be fighting in Iraq and Syria, with another 100 actively support the extremists.
The government says current legislation is inadequate to fight the threats from groups such as Daesh and is pushing two bills through parliament this week.
"Legislation to create new terrorist offences and to extend existing powers to monitor or to detain terror suspects will be introduced this week," Abbott said.
"As well, legislation requiring telecommunications providers to keep the metadata they already create and to continue to make it available to police and security agencies will be introduced soon," he added.
Meanwhile, Attorney-General George Brandis has drawn up a bill to give security agencies greater powers and another bill to deal with the threat from foreign fighters returning from fights with extremists abroad.
Under the new powers, it will be illegal for an individual to intentionally counsel, promote, encourage or urge a terrorist act, Brandis said.
The bills will also allow for bans on visits to cities or regions where terror groups are declared to be active. People travelling to such "no-go areas" without a valid reason could face prosecution.
Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team
