Law enforcement bodies have defended powers that can block an Australian citizen from entering the nation if they’re a suspected terrorist risk after serious concerns were raised.
Temporary exclusion orders can be made to prevent an Australian from returning for up to two years if the home affairs minister reasonably suspects the person could become involved in terrorist activities.
Eight orders have been made since the laws were put in place in 2019.
Australian Security Intelligence Organisation head Mike Burgess said the biggest risk to Australians remained a lone actor terrorist attack without warning. He said foreign fighters who had joined terrorist organisations could still hold extremist views and lean towards violence.
“If they return to Australia they’re likely to bring home capabilities learned in a conflict zone,” he said.
“Some ... may pose a latent threat to the security environment.”
Australia Federal Police’s Ian McCartney said the orders provided law enforcement agencies with more time to assess and respond to such threats.
“Information not just for ourselves but for our intelligence partners to have a better-informed risk assessment,” the deputy commissioner of investigations said.
McCartney said the AFP had used the order numerous times to reduce risk.
But Human Rights Commissioner Lorraine Finlay said the laws had been used to target relatives or associates of Australian foreign fighters who might not have engaged in criminal conduct.
“Australian citizens who are not themselves involved in terrorism,should not be prevented from returning to Australia,” she told a parliamentary committee reviewing the laws on Monday.
AAP