List of organisations designated as terrorist by Australia

Designated terrorist organisations in Australia are organisations that have been designated by the Australian government as terrorist organisations. A list of terrorist organisations was first created under the Security Legislation Amendment (Terrorism) Act 2002, as part of the fight against terrorism worldwide.

History[edit]

The Security Legislation Amendment (Terrorism) Act 2002 was passed by the Australian Parliament, "enabling Australian governments to deal with organisations involved in terrorism",^[1] and inserted a range of terrorist organisation offences into the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth).^[2][3] For example, the Act made it an offence to materially support or be supported by a listed terrorist organisation.^[4]

Oversight and monitoring[edit]

The list of designated terror organisations is maintained by the Attorney-General's Department. For listing as a terrorist organisation, an organisation may be found to be such by a court as part of a prosecution for a terrorist offence or the designation may be made by regulation upon the motion of the Attorney-General of Australia under Division 102 of the Criminal Code Act 1995.^[5] Listing, de-listing and re-listing follows a protocol that mainly involves the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation and the Attorney-General's Department.^[6] Such action in general is not made with reference to designations made or proposed by other countries or multinational organisations.^{[citation needed]}

Under Division 103 of the Criminal Code Act 1995, it is illegal to finance terrorism.^[7] The Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) monitors financial transactions involving listed terrorist organisations.^{[citation needed]}

List of designated terrorist organisations[edit]

As of 18 April 2024,^[update] the Australian government lists 29 foreign organisations as terrorist organisations:^[2]

Hamas was listed in July 2014,^[8] but was removed from the list by January 2015.^{[citation needed]} Hamas was reinstated in 2022.^[9]

The Base and the entirety of Hezbollah were added on 24 November 2021.^[10][11]

Terrorism financing laws[edit]

Australian anti-terrorism financing laws include:

• Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth):
  • section 102.6 – getting funds to, from or for a terrorist organisation
  • section 102.7 – providing support to a terrorist organisation
  • section 103.1 – financing terrorism
  • section 103.2 – financing a terrorist, and
  • section 119.4(5) – giving or receiving goods and services to promote the commission of a foreign incursion offence.^[12]
• Charter of the United Nations Act 1945 (Cth):
  • section 20 – dealing with freezable assets, and
  • section 21 – giving an asset to a proscribed person or entity.

These offences sanction persons and entities under Australian and international law.^[13] The responsibility of prosecuting these offences in Australia rests with the Australian Federal Police, state police forces and the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions.

See also[edit]

• Anti-Terrorism Act 2005
• Australian anti-terrorism legislation, 2004
• List of designated terrorist groups
• Terrorism in Australia

References[edit]