Criminal status for extremist members

IT will soon be a criminal offence to be a member of Shia militant group Hezbollah or neo-Nazi group The Base.

Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews said the threat of terrorism was “enduring” in Australia and there was no place for complacency.

“The government has zero tolerance for violence and there is no cause – religious or ideological – that can justify killing innocent people,” she said on Wednesday.

“The threat in Australia remains at ‘probable’ and that means that we have credible intelligence that there are individuals with the capability and the intent to conduct a terrorist attack here in Australia.

“The views of violent extremist groups such as these are a stain on the rich cultural fabric that we have here in Australia. There is no place for their hateful ideologies.”

There are 26 terrorist organisations listed under the criminal code and before Wednesday one part of Hezbollah – the External Security Organisation – had been listed as a terrorist organisation by the Australian government since 2003.

But, as the group continues to threaten terrorist attacks and provide support to Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Hamas’ Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigade, the whole group is now included under Australian law.

Ms Andrews (pictured) said The Base was a “violent, racist, neo-Nazi group known by security agencies to be planning and preparing for terrorist attacks”.

She said it was known to have organised paramilitary training camps overseas.

“I have written to my state and territory counterparts to consult with them on the proposed listings of The Base and the entirety of Hezbollah,” she said.

“My aim is to move through the processes as quickly as I possibly can to ensure that these listings proceed in the quickest possible time.”