Would-be jihadis to be kicked off internet

YOUNG would-be jihadis will be banned from using the internet, under a plan designed to stop the radicalisation of youths.

YOUNG would-be jihadis would be banned from using the internet, under a plan designed to stop the radicalisation of youths.

Now, the Federal Government is being asked to consider a national approach to a Victorian proposal, which would also place young people in de-radicalisation programs.

Under the proposal, new laws would be created to force radicalised young people to abide by curfews, restrict their movements or order them into reform programs.

Counterterrorism officers could also apply to a court for community protection orders, similar to intervention orders, for people deemed to have been radicalised. The orders could be sought even when a youth hadn’t planned a terror attack or sought to fight overseas for groups like Islamic State.

Victorian Attorney-General Martin Pakula said the idea, which has been put to the state’s Department of Justice, was about nipping radicalisation in the bud.

“These types of orders, if they were to come into effect, would simply be one part of a broader suite of measures considered to tackle the rise of violent extremism,” Mr Pakula said.

The State Government has already committed $24 million to countering violent extremism, establishing a cabinet task force and funding a research institute.

While there has been no consultation as yet with the federal government, Mr Pakula said a national approach would be welcome.

“Wherever you can have a national approach in these matters it is preferable because whether it’s organised crime, whether it’s terrorism or extremism, they don’t respect state borders,” he said. The Victorian government will consider the police proposal when it reviews other laws terror-related later this year or early next year.