Published: 19 February 2021
Last updated: 4 March 2024
AUSTRALIA’S MAIN JEWISH COMMUNITY advocacy bodies have called on the federal government to amend legislation to allow them to declare Hezbollah and Hizb ut-Tahrir terrorist organisations.
In submissions to the federal government’s inquiry into extremist groups and radicalism, the Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ), the Zionist Federation of Australia (ZFA) and the Australia Israel Jewish affairs Council (AIJAC) named the two Islamist organisations as the chief risks that needed to be proscribed.
Among right-wing groups, the following were named as a threat that needed to be monitored: the Nationalist Socialist Network, Reclaim Australia, the Lads Society and QAnon.
AIJAC’S submission encapsulated the general focus as follows: “The Australian Jewish community is particularly sensitive to terrorism of all varieties, given individuals and groups from across the extremist spectrum have repeatedly highlighted Jews as a desirable target.
“This submission details the threats perceived to be most aggressively targeting Australian Jewish people and institutions – Hezbollah, Hizb ut-Tahrir and far-right extremists.’
In general the submissions also called for heightened vigilance and monitoring by, and resourcing for, Australian security agencies, in relation to both Islamist and right-wing extremist groups, in the wake of the Christchurch massacre.
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ECAJ submission
“With regard to Australia’s terrorist organisation listing laws, [the Lebanon-based] Hezbollah has carried out appalling acts of terrorism around the world …. We believe that the activities of Hezbollah as a whole represent a security threat, a threat to social cohesion and a crime risk to all Australians, and to the Australian Jewish community in particular.
“Australia should follow the example of all but one of its partners in the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance (namely the US, Canada and more recently the UK) and declare the whole of Hezbollah to be a terrorist organisation.”
With regard to Hizb utTahrir and its activities in Australia, ECAJ argues that “Federal, State and Territory laws proscribing incitement of violence or serious vilification on the basis of race or religion have failed to deal adequately with the advocacy of violence, falling short of advocacy of terrorism, by such groups” as Hizb utTahrir – and that the laws need to be changed to proscribe it as a terrorist organisation.
In relation to far-right groups, the ECAJ submission says that “similar to far-right groups in the US, NSN, AR and the Lads Society appear to be far better organised and less prone to in-fighting and internal schisms than earlier far-right racist groups, although this could change.
“They have been adept at selectively recruiting individuals, although they do not seek to build a mass movement, but rather aim to become an elite vanguard.”
ECAJ also noted an absence of uniform definition over hate crimes that needs to be addressed. “In contrast to the UK, the US and Canada, we note that there is no definition of ‘hate crime’, ‘bias-motivated crime’ or even of ‘racially-motivated crime’ that is officially recognised throughout Australia, and no official, centralised, nation-wide recording of such crimes, or system to do so.
ECAJ SUBMISSION IN FULL
ZFA submission
In a media statement accompanying its submission, the ZFA said “we recommended that the government changes terrorism legislation to close a loophole allowing organisations to associate with terrorists.
“Australian counter-terrorism law casts a wide net over the terrorism-related activity of individuals, including a prohibition against associating with a proscribed terrorist organisation.
“However, the Criminal Code does not prohibit an organisation from associating with a terrorist organisation.
“The ZFA recommended in its submission that any organisation that willingly and knowingly associates with a proscribed terrorist organisation (in order to help that organisation) should itself be proscribed. This is the practice of Canada, New Zealand and the United States.
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The ZFA submission also makes a note about right-wing extremism: “Right-wing extremism is a growing threat in Australia. Although no right-wing organisation has been proscribed in Australia, that the threat is growing, becoming more organised and more ideological, and that likeminded countries have proscribed right-wing organisations, makes it likely that such a proscription could occur in the future.
“Internalising a holistic approach, including incorporating the suggestions in this submission, would be advantageous in the fight against right-wing extremism in Australia.
“First, ASIO would consider proscribing foreign right-wing terrorist organisations if, in doing so, our international partners would be aided in their fight against right-wing terrorists.
“Second, by prohibiting both individuals and organisations from associating with those foreign right-wing terrorists, Australia would decrease the operational and recruitment capability of right-wing extremist movements in Australia, as well as abroad.”
ZFA SUBMISSION IN FULL
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AIJAC submission
In a statement accompanying its submission, AIJAC “called for Hezbollah in its entirety to be listed as a terrorist group in Australia given the threat posed by Hezbollah as an international terrorist group. Currently, only Hezbollah’s External Security Organisation is listed as a terrorist group in Australia.
“AIJAC also argued in the submission that the Government should consider listing Hizb utTahrir (HT) as a terrorist group in Australia.
“In Australia, there is a range of far-right groups, movements and far-right-motivated individuals that have been active in recent years, many with connections to international groups. AIJAC is particularly concerned by the growth of the Nationalist Socialist Network and the rise of QAnon in Australia.
To date, no far-right groups have been listed as a terrorist organisation in Australia. Far-right groups have been listed as terror groups by Australian allies including in the UK, Canada and New Zealand.”
“AIJAC recommends the Government consider an amendment to the Crimes Act 1914 to explicitly prohibit violence, incitement and the glorification of violence against a racial or religious group.
“This will assist in providing a legal remedy for groups and individuals that seek to harm Australians but fall short of the legislative threshold for proscription. This is relevant to a range of extremist groups, including Hizb ut-Tahrir and far-right groups and movements.”
AIJAC SUBMISSION
Maiun photo: Hezbollah (left), Neo-Nazis in Grampian mountains, Victoria
