28 June 2013
Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus QC today announced that Jabhat al-Nusra had been listed as a terrorist organisation under Australia’s counter-terrorism laws.
This is the first time Jabhat al-Nusra has been listed under the Commonwealth Criminal Code.
“This organisation was listed following careful consideration of advice from security agencies for the purposes of the Criminal Code,” Mr Dreyfus said.
“Jabhat Al-Nusra is an extremist group fighting against Bashar al Assad’s regime in Syria, with direct links with Al-Qa’ida in Iraq, which supplies it with weapons, recruits and equipment. The Australian Government deplores the violence and suffering that is occurring in Syria,” Mr Dreyfus said.
Jabhat al-Nusra has a history of suicide attacks and indiscriminate bombings in Syria and is not part of the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces, which Australia acknowledges as the legitimate representative of the Syrian people.
An organisation is listed as a terrorist organisation under the Commonwealth Criminal Code when the Attorney-General is satisfied the organisation is directly or indirectly engaged in, preparing, planning, assisting in or fostering the doing of a terrorist act or advocates the doing of a terrorist act.
The listing will ensure that all terrorist organisation offence provisions under Australia’s counter-terrorism legislation apply in relation to this organisation.
“The Government remains resolute in its commitment to national security, protecting Australia, its people and its interests,” Mr Dreyfus said.
It is now an offence to direct the activities of, be a member of, recruit for, train for and receive training from Jabhat al-Nusra. It is also an offence to get funds to, from or for, provide support to and associate with members of Jabhat al-Nusra. These offences attract penalties of imprisonment for up to 25 years. The listing of an organisation is valid for three years, after which the organisation may be re-listed.
The Government will be working with community leaders and the broader Australian community to communicate additional information on the implications of the listing of Jabhat al-Nusra as a terrorist organisation under the Criminal Code.
Further details about the listing of Jabhat al-Nusra and other terrorist organisations can be found at national security website.
Information about the Government’s position on, and response to, the conflict is Syria, including specific information on Jabhat al-Nusra, is available at resilient communities website.
