Stop Australians From Fighting With Terrorists in Lebanon: Coalition

Aircraft leave vapour trails in the sky above Beirut, Lebanon, on Dec. 10, 2023. (Cynthia Karam/Reuters)

The Coalition is calling on the federal government to establish no-go travel zones to prevent Australians fighting with terrorists overseas.

The call comes after news emerged that an Australian man who died in an Israeli air strike in south Lebanon was allegedly linked to terrorist group Hezbollah.

Shadow foreign affairs minister Simon Birmingham suggested actions the government could be taking to stop Australians fighting with terrorist groups, including establishing a terrorist no-go zone.

“The Albanese Government needs to be clear in terms of the steps and actions it is taking. It needs to consider using all powers available to it to prevent Australians from signing up and fighting with any terrorist organisation,” he said on Sky News.

Mr. Birmingham highlighted that there is a discrete area in southern Lebanon where Hezbollah is engaging in actions that would “risk the escalation of the conflict in the Middle East” where Australians should not be participating.

“That’s why the Albanese Government should be looking at all powers available to it. Considering those powers, including the use of no travel zones to prevent individuals from travelling into that region,” he said.

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“And to have a very clear line in the sand that simply says you cannot, as an Australian, travel into that region, unless you may very limited criteria, and that can ensure that there is a clear offence identifiable for anybody who breaches it.”

Federal Government Responds

The Federal Labor government said on Jan. 2 that it is still working to establish facts around media reports that an Australian was killed in southern Lebanon fighting with Hezbollah.

Local sources reported that Ali Bazzi, who died along with his brother Ibrahim during an Israeli air strike, was a member of Hezbollah.

Minister Mark Butler reminded Australians that Hezbollah is a listed terrorist organisation and noted it is an offence to engage in hostile activities overseas.

“It is a criminal offence for Australians to engage in hostile activities overseas, other than, as I just said, as part of the formal forces of a foreign nation. There are very clear penalties in Australian law, there have been for a long time, which include sanctions like the possible cancellation of passport,” he told reporters in Adelaide.

“I just want to take this opportunity to remind Australia visa holders, residents or citizens it is a criminal offence to engage in those sorts of hostile activities.

The warning comes after shadow foreign affairs minister James Paterson recommended the government make it an offence to travel to parts of southern Lebanon.

“The foreign minister has the power to declare an area under the criminal code, which makes it an offence to travel there,” Mr. Paterson told The Australian on Jan. 1.

“The Albanese government should consider doing so for southern Lebanon, consistent with the clear travel advice for months to avoid the area.”