George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

Senator Fawcett, the number of Australians travelling to Syria and surrounding countries to engage in that civil war is unprecedentedly high by comparison with other violent civil conflicts abroad. Of concern to the government is not only the engagement by those persons in politically motivated violence but evidence that Australians travelling to Syria to participate in that conflict are radicalised or further radicalised by violent jihadist ideology. The return of such radicalised persons to Australia, with the capabilities acquired through fighting or training with extremist groups, is of serious concern to the national security agencies. As the Director-General of ASIO observed in the 2013 ASIO annual report:

ASIO is concerned about the potential for Australians in Syria to be exposed further to extremist groups and their ideology.

An individual who becomes involved in the conflict and who holds, or develops, an extremist ideology could return to Australia not only with the intent to facilitate attacks onshore but also with experience— (Time expired)