Friday November 23, 2018
By Lane Calcutt • Political Reporter
Scott Morrison has pledged to strip terrorists of their citizenship. (AAP)
Scott Morrison is defending tough new laws to strip that convicted terrorists of their Australian citizenship, in the face of warnings from the legal profession it could breach international obligations and leave people stateless.
But the Prime Minister told TODAY he's not concerned.
"Those people who oppose the law always say that," Mr Morrison said.
"They make all those claims, but what I do is press on and just get it done.
"I'm keeping Australians safe. Those who often say that don't want me to address those issues.
"They want to provide excuses for others not to address those issues."
Under proposed tough changes to the legislation announced yesterday, the government wants no minimum sentence, and only to reasonably believe a convicted terrorist has alternative citizenship before to take away their citizenship.
It would also stop foreign fighters returning to Australia for two years.
The Law Council of Australia called the changes "radical" and they could leave citizens stateless.
But the prime minister is staring down the criticism.
PM wants Islamic leaders to call out extremists
"We need to toughen the laws up," he said.
"People need to know if you commit a crime, not just against fellow Australians, but against Australia, the country that gave you your liberty, then that will be taken from you.
"They can't operate with some sort of leave pass on this. Citizenship gone."
The government wants the legislation passed before Parliament rises for the year.
Australian terrorist Khaled Sharrouf, who is likely dead, pictured with his sons in Syria (Nine)