The Morrison Government continues to keep Australians safe from terrorism and violent extremism, by announcing today the intention to list The Base and the entirety of Hizballah as terrorist organisations under the Criminal Code.
Minister for Home Affairs Karen Andrews said the Government is sending
a strong message that Australia condemns the use of terrorism to achieve political, ideological or religious objectives.“The Government has zero tolerance for violence, and there is no cause – religious or ideological – that can justify killing innocent people,” Minister Andrews said.
“The Morrison Government is committed to ensuring Australia has the right tools and legislation in place to combat the enduring threat of terrorism. As recent events in the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and elsewhere around the world have demonstrated, we cannot be complacent.
“Australia is a nation of rich cultural backgrounds. Our community is built on a broad fabric of many and varied experiences and cultures, and our nation’s character is better off for it. The views of violent extremist groups such as these are a stain on that rich cultural fabric. There is no place in Australia for their hateful ideologies.”
Hizballah’s External Security Organisation has been a listed terrorist organisation since 2003. The group continues to threaten terrorist attacks and provides support to terrorist organisations such as Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Hamas’ Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades.
The Base is a violent, racist, neo-Nazi group known by security agencies to be planning and preparing terrorist attacks. The Base is currently proscribed as a terrorist organisation by the Governments of Canada and the United Kingdom, and is known to have organised paramilitary training camps overseas.
The listings will enable the application of terrorist organisation offences to these groups, and align Australia with international partners such as the United Kingdom and Canada.
The Minister has written to her state and territory counterparts to consult with them on the proposed listings, and aims to finalise the listing as soon as possible.
Since 2013-14, the Coalition Government has allocated more than $69 million to programs that counter violent extremism in Australia. These programs address all forms of violent extremism, including religiously and ideologically motivated violent extremism.
Earlier this week, the Morrison Government also provided Australian police with important new powers to protect Australians from terrorist offenders who continue to pose a high-risk at the conclusion of their sentence, with the Counter-Terrorism Legislation Amendment (High Risk Terrorist Offenders) Bill passing the Parliament.
26 terrorist organisations are currently listed under the Criminal Code. Further details regarding the listing of terrorist organisations can be found at the Australian Government’s National Security website.
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