News Digest

Australia to toughen citizenship laws to combat terrorism

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott warned Monday of a long-term era of heightened threats from “home-grown” extremists as he announced fresh measures to combat the issue including revoking citizenship for dual-nationals linked to terrorism. Canberra raised its threat level to high in September and has since carried out a series of raids with the departure of at least 110 of its nationals to Iraq and Syria to fight with the Islamic State group. Abbott said the threat at home was getting worse with security agencies currently running more than 400 high-priority counter-terrorism investigations - more than double the number a year ago.

By any measure, the threat to Australia is worsening… there’s an Australian cohort of hardened jihadists who are intent on radicalising and influencing others.

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott

In his address Abbott highlighted the rise of lone-wolf attackers who “self-radicalise” online with Islamic State running a slick social media operation, with 20 people arrested under terrorism laws in the past six months alone. Abbott flagged changes to immigration laws to enable the government to revoke or suspend Australian citizenship in the case of dual nationals while clamping down on organisations that incite religious or racial hatred “We cannot allow bad people to use our good nature against us,” he said. The changes could include restricting the ability to leave or return to Australia, access to consular services overseas and access to welfare payments.

The government will develop amendments to the Australian Citizenship Act so that we can revoke or suspend Australian citizenship in the case of dual nationals.

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott