Angus Taylor Urges One Nation to Back Coalition Plan on ISIS-Linked Returnees

MELBOURNE, August 1: Australian Opposition Leader Angus Taylor has called on One Nation leader Pauline Hanson to support the Coalition’s legislation aimed at preventing women and children linked to ISIS fighters in Syria from returning to Australia.

The appeal came after Senator Hanson circulated her own 22-page proposal, titled the Protecting Australians from Foreign Terrorist Fighters Bill, among fellow crossbench parliamentarians, accompanied by a detailed explanation of its proposed measures.

Hanson’s Bill would introduce a foreign terrorist fighter exclusion order, allowing authorities to prevent individuals subject to such an order from entering Australia.

The proposed legislation would also suspend automatically issued return permits while legal proceedings are underway, tighten bail conditions for terrorism-related offences, block passports for people covered by exclusion orders and criminalise assistance provided for an unauthorised return to Australia.

Speaking on Thursday, Taylor said the Coalition had been advocating for months for measures designed to stop the third-party repatriation of Australians linked to ISIS fighters.

He argued that the Coalition’s legislation was already before Parliament and could be supported immediately by One Nation and other political parties.

“The plan is in front of the Parliament now,” Taylor said.

“I have responded to One Nation and asked them to support that legislation. It is there, ready to go, and it was introduced to Parliament some time ago.”

The exchange followed reports that Hanson had criticised Taylor for not responding to an earlier letter she had sent him. According to the report, Taylor replied later that evening.

Nationals frontbencher Bridget McKenzie said the Opposition welcomed proposals from crossbench parliamentarians that could strengthen Australia’s laws concerning the return of people linked to foreign terrorist organisations.

However, she maintained that drafting national security legislation was primarily the responsibility of the federal government.

“It is not up to the crossbench or the Liberal and National Party Opposition to draft laws to keep Australians safe—that is the role of government,” McKenzie told Nine’s Today program.

She said the government had access to experienced legal officers through agencies including the Attorney-General’s Department and the Department of Home Affairs and should use those resources to develop effective legislation.

McKenzie also argued that ministers should use existing powers to cancel passports, refuse travel documents or delay their issuance where legally possible.

She alleged that those options had not been adequately considered by the Labor government in relation to the return of ISIS-linked women.

Coalition defence industry spokesperson Phil Thompson said discussions between political leaders from different parties were common. He added that the Opposition’s priority was to present an alternative approach focused on preventing ISIS supporters and fighters from returning to Australia.

Responding to Hanson’s proposal, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Australians had no sympathy for people who had travelled overseas to fight for ISIS.

However, when asked whether the government would support One Nation’s Bill, Albanese emphasised the importance of acting within the law and respecting constitutional rights associated with Australian citizenship.

He also noted that 45 men who had fought with ISIS had returned to Australia before Labor came to government.

“Citizenship brings certain rights under the Constitution, and we will do everything we can within the law,” Albanese said, adding that the government would not provide assistance for such individuals to return.

The federal government has repeatedly maintained that it did not assist the return of ISIS-linked women and children, several of whom are now involved in court proceedings.

According to the information presented, only one Temporary Exclusion Order has been issued to a member of the group, following advice from the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation.

The competing proposals have renewed political debate over how Australia should manage citizens linked to foreign terrorist organisations while balancing national security, constitutional rights and the rule of law.

-news.com.au