The Intelligence and Security Committee
today tabled its report supporting regulations listing and re-listing groups, such as Islamic State-Somalia, as terrorist organisations under the Criminal Code.
The Committee reviewed the process for listing terrorist organisations and the information provided to the Minister for Home Affairs in support of regulations affecting the listings, which must demonstrate that, each group:
- is directly, or indirectly engaged in, preparing, planning, assisting in or fostering the doing of a terrorist act; or
- that they advocated the doing of a terrorist act.
The Committee's report, Review of the listing of Islamic State-Somalia and the re-listing of Abu Sayyaf Group, al-Qa'ida, al-Qa'ida in the Lands of the Islamic Maghreb, Jabhat Fatah al-Sham and Jemaah Islamiyah as terrorist organisations under the Criminal Code, asserts that appropriate processes had been followed in the listing of these groups and that each group meets the definition of a terrorist organisation under the Criminal Code.
The Committee's Chair, Mr Andrew Hastie MP, said the PJCIS had an important role in the oversight of terrorist organisation listings, as individuals whom engage with listed organisations may be charged with serious offences including: being a member of a terrorist organisation, recruiting on behalf of a terrorist organisation, or getting funds to or from a terrorist organisation.
"The regulations mean that individuals associated with these terrorist organisations will be subject to serious offences under the Criminal Code. The Committee's review of the regulations provides public assurance that listing these groups is reasonable and necessary."
"The Committee supports the listing and re-listing of these terrorist organisations and finds no reason to disallow the regulations," Mr Hastie said.
