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

Thank you very much indeed, Senator Back, and I know you take a very deep interest in this important area. As you rightly say, on Monday the new offence under section 119 of the Commonwealth Criminal Code did come into force, making it a crime to enter or remain in a declared area where terrorist organisations are engaged in hostile activities.

The declared area offence was a key provision in the foreign fighters bill to act as a deterrent and send a strong message to Australians who may wish to fight with terrorist organisations. Despite recent gains against ISIL in Syria and northern Iraq, the threat posed by foreign fighters returning to Australia remains the most-pressing matter of national security we face at the moment.

The government has not delayed in using this important enforcement and deterrence tool. This morning the foreign minister declared the Syrian province of Al-Raqqa under section 119.3 of the criminal code, meaning that it will be an offence to be in this area without a legitimate purpose such as a bona fide visit to family members. Al-Raqqa serves as the de facto capital of ISIL, one of the world's most deadly and active terrorist organisations. ISIL uses terrorist attacks extensively against civilians. This includes frequent mass casualty attacks; rape and enslavement of women; mass executions, including beheadings; and other atrocities. ISIL boasts of these atrocities through videos and magazines depicting these violent acts. There is more to do. Consideration is being given at the moment to declaring further areas where ISIL is heavily engaged in hostile activities under section 119 of the Criminal Code: