Blocking Aussie Jihadists is overdue

When David Hicks was participating in para-military training in Afghanistan in 2001, the US Military Commission charged him with 'providing material support for terrorism' and he was detained in Guantanamo Bay until 2007. But when other Australians participate in military activities in the plethora of pro and anti-government 'brigades', they return home to a hero's welcome.

The current law is articulated by the Department of Foreign Affairs travel advise: "it is illegal under Australian law for Australian citizens, including dual citizens, to provide any kind of support to any armed group in Syria. This includes engaging in fighting for either side, funding training or recruiting someone to fight … Australians who commit these offences while overseas may be prosecuted in Australia" with heavy fines and maximum 10 years imprisonment. So why has there not been a single arrest, prosecution of conviction reported to the Australian public since the alarm bells were sounded?

Too many of these Australians publicly claim to be offering humanitarian aid to the Syrian refugee epidemic, but their Facebook photos show them posing proudly with guns.

The hypothetical arrest depicted earlier could continue with the interrogation: if you were doing humanitarian work, name the exact NGO? Name the driver and organisation which transported you from the airport to the site? Exactly what work did you undertake? Name your contact person? What was his phone number? Exactly which location? Who paid for your return flight? Exactly where did you stay?

If the problem is loop holes within the current Australian law, then it is incumbent upon the Attorney-General George Brandis to update the national security laws, just as the anti-terrorism laws were updated with 54 new bills under the Howard government.

The real 'illegals' are arriving in planes, not boats.