The Coalition will introduce legislation to shut the door on returning ISIS sympathisers, as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke refuse to say they will actively stop the terrorist collaborators from returning.
The Coalition’s Shadow National Security Committee has approved legislation on Friday afternoon that would criminalise assisting the return of the ISIS brides.
The Bill will make it a criminal offence to facilitate the re-entry of individuals linked to terrorist hotspots or terrorist organisations, or who have committed terror related offences.
Humanitarian or security-based repatriation could continue with the express permission of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Minister for Home Affairs.
The Coalition’s strong position to close the door on those who turn their backs on Australia stands in stark contrast with the Labor Party’s two-faced response – facilitating the return of ISIS sympathisers through granting passports on the one hand and talking tough on the other.
Leader of the Opposition Angus Taylor said that instead of blaming the existing laws or security agencies for a failure to act, the Coalition will take action to protect our way of life.
“A Coalition Government will strengthen our laws to protect Australia’s way of life.
“We will take action and refuse to let people come here who abandoned Australia to support Islamic extremist terror overseas.
“We must shut the door to people who do not share our values, and these people rejected our values in favour of terror.
“Anthony Albanese should come to the table and support these laws.” Mr. Taylor said.
Shadow Minister for Home Affairs and Immigration Jonno Duniam said that this legislation sends a very clear message: anyone who travels to a designated terrorist hotspot, such as Syria, to support a death cult like ISIS does not deserve to come back to Australia.
“The Albanese Government’s reckless approach of issuing passports and allowing so-called ‘self-managed returns’ is not border protection — it’s an abdication of its responsibility to keep Australians safe.
“The Coalition will always put national security and community safety first. We will not allow third parties to facilitate the return of individuals who chose to align themselves with ISIS,” Senator Duniam said.