Key facts
- The Coalition will support One Nation's bill to prevent Australian citizens with links to overseas terrorist groups from returning.
- The bill aims to make it easier to cancel Australian passports and create new penalties for assisting the return of foreign fighters.
- It proposes a new 'foreign terrorist fighter exclusion order' regime.
- The Albanese government believes the plan would not withstand a high court challenge.
- Key Coalition frontbenchers have offered to collaborate with One Nation on the legislation.
The Australian Coalition has signaled its support for a One Nation bill designed to prevent citizens with links to overseas terrorist groups from returning to Australia. Opposition Leader Angus Taylor and Nationals Leader Matt Canavan have indicated their parties will work with One Nation on the legislation, which is set to be introduced in the Senate.
Key Coalition frontbenchers, including Shadow Foreign Minister Ted O’Brien and Shadow Home Affairs Minister Jonno Duniam, have expressed a willingness to collaborate on the bill, aiming to ensure its robustness. Duniam stated that the Coalition wants to "shut the door on terrorists" and suggested the bill be sent to a Senate committee for expert review.
One Nation's proposal includes provisions for easier cancellation of Australian passports and new penalties for individuals who assist in the return of people connected to terrorist organizations. It seeks to establish a new regime for "foreign terrorist fighter exclusion orders," to be imposed by the federal court at the request of the Home Affairs Minister.
However, the bill faces significant obstacles. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has previously stated that such a plan would likely fail in the high court and argued that blocking citizens' return could make them more dangerous and less accessible to security agencies. Without the Labor government's cooperation, the bill is unlikely to be debated in the House of Representatives.
Despite pledging to counter One Nation's political influence, the Coalition's support for the bill is notable, particularly as national security is a traditional stronghold for the Liberal and National parties. Canavan mentioned that the Coalition had considered similar measures as far back as the Abbott government.