Dutton bid to ban return of terrorists

Australians who pose a terrorist threat will be banned from returning home for up to two years under tough new legislation.

Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton.

Australians who pose a terrorist threat will be banned from returning home for up to two years under tough new legislation being introduced today by Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton in a bid to underscore the government’s resolv­e on national security.

The legislation will set up a new system of “temporary exclusion orders”, allowing the minister to make an order preventing a person from obtaining an Australian passport. It will also give security agencies powers to delay, monitor and control the return to Australia of individuals who have been involve­d in terrorism.

The shake-up, announced last November, is a potential test for Bill Shorten after the government accused Labor last week of thwarting its legislation to strip terrorists in Aust­ralia of their citizenship.

When the government announced its intention to introduce temporary exclusion orders, Labor reserved its position and said it would wait to see the legislation.

The opposition raised concerns the laws could be unconstitutional and needed changes, triggering an attack from the government, with Mr Dutton accus­ing Labor of being soft on national security.

Defending the need for the new legislation, the minister said the ability to issue temporary exclus­ion orders was vital to address the threat posed by Australians who had travelled to Iraq and Syria “as far from our shores as possible”.

“Australians who are involved in supporting terrorism, and who may have fought with terrorists in Syria or Iraq, pose a significant threat, especially since the military collapse of (Islamic State),” he said.

“That’s why we’re introducing temporary exclusion orders, which would prevent Australians involved in terrorism overseas from legally returning to Australia for up to two years.”

A person subject to a temporary exclusion order could return­ legally to Australia only through a permit issued by the minister and would cover deportations by a foreig­n country.

“The return permit can specify the conditions under which the person returns to Australia, such as date of return, specific flights and security arrangements, to further manage any potential threat,” Mr Dutton said.

The bill comes after Scott Morrison used a Nation­al Press Club address last week to set up a nation­al securit­y showdown with Labor at the election, unveiling a plan to target the Opposition Leader on border protection, community safe­ty and economic management.

There are only four parlia­ment­ary sitting days before the next election, due in May, and only two when the Senate is sitting, meaning the bill is unlikely to pass unless it is prioritised.

The introduction of the new laws comes after Labor issued a minority report on the government’s citizenship legislation after an inquiry by parliament’s joint committee on intelligence and security.

The government’s citizenship legislation is aimed at allowing the government to strip the citizenship of terrorists in Australia who are about to finish or who have finished­ serving prison sentences.

Law Council president Morry Bailes previously warned the plan to introduce temporary exclusion orders could have the effect of leaving an Australian stateless.