David Fawcett (SA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Attorney-General, Senator Brandis.

Doug Cameron (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Human Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Come on down, George. Come on down.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order!

David Fawcett (SA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Can the Attorney-General update the Senate on what the government is doing in response to the threat posed to Australia by the conflict in Syria and Iraq?

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

Thank you, Senator Fawcett. I want to acknowledge your deep interest in and knowledge about this area of policy. It is not an exaggeration to say that the risk posed by—

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Someone has stolen George. That was humble!

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

I thought, Senator Conroy, that this was a matter that the opposition might take seriously. It is not an exaggeration to say that the risk of returning foreign fighters, in particular those who joined terrorist organisations such as ISIL, is the greatest national security threat that Australia has faced in many years. The government has already introduced legislation—the National Security Legislation Amendment Bill—giving effect to the recommendations of the bipartisan Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security to strengthen the ability of the Australian intelligence community to counter threats arising from terrorism.

On 5 August, the Prime Minister, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and I announced a further set of measures to build Australia's resilience and capability in defending itself from the threat of terrorism. Those measures included the investment of an additional $630 million over the next four years, which will provide funding certainty for the agencies involved in counter-terrorism, in particular ASIO, the AFP, ASIS, ONA and the Customs and Border Protection Service.

The funding responds to the reduced expenditure on those agencies since 2009 and supports new programs to bolster monitoring and disruption activities in Australia and overseas. In addition to finding a range of new counter-terrorism measures, the government will as well introduce a second tranche of laws shortly to boost our counter-terrorism legislative framework.

David Fawcett (SA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. Can the Attorney-General inform the Senate as to why these legislative changes and this enhanced approach is required?

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

It is necessary in order to keep Australians safe. I cannot stress enough that this problem is not a problem that exists only on the other side of the world; it has its origins in our own suburbs. The escalating terrorist situation in Iraq and Syria poses an increasing threat, unlike any other that this country has experienced, to the security of Australians both at home and overseas.

The number of Australians involved in the Syria and Iraq conflicts is significantly higher than in previous foreign conflicts. We know, for instance, that of the 30 Australians who fought and trained with extremist groups in the conflict zones between 1990 and 2010 in Pakistan and Afghanistan, 25 returned and eight were convicted of terrorism related offences. By comparison, ASIO advises us that today there are some 60 Australians involved in foreign fighting. (Time expired)

David Fawcett (SA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. Can the Attorney-General advise the Senate of the importance of senior community leaders working to reduce the threat of harm to Australians?

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

Yes, I can. Australia's Muslim community, in particular their leaders, play a critical role in helping those communities to acknowledge the devastating events in the Middle East, to understand the dangers of becoming involved in the conflict and to identify the legal and effective means of providing support to those who are suffering. As the Prime Minister said this morning:

There are no stronger members of 'Team Australia' than the overwhelming majority of the Muslim community.

To support that community engagement, the Prime Minister and I this morning announced the expenditure of an additional $64 million of measures to counter violent extremism and radicalisation. Those measures include $13.4 million being invested in community efforts to strengthen community engagement programs, with an emphasis on preventing young Australians becoming involved with extremists. That expands the previous programs and reflects the lessons learnt from it. (Time expired)