Dutton to push for a rewrite of foreign fighter laws

Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton will call for a rethink of foreign fighter laws when he delivers his first major speech since taking on the mega-portfolio.

Minister for Home Affairs Peter Dutton during Question Time in the House of Representatives at Parliament House in Canberra, Thursday, February 15, 2018.

File: Minister for Home Affairs Peter Dutton during Question Time, February 15, 2018. Source: AAP

Peter Dutton is expected to push for a rewrite of foreign fighter laws as he makes his pitch for a "safer, more secure Australia".

In his first major speech since taking on the new Home Affairs mega-portfolio, Mr Dutton is due to tell the National Press Club the laws stripping dual-national fighters of their Australian citizenship have failed.
"I am concerned that legislation to strip the Australian citizenship of dual nationals engaged in terrorism is not working as it should," he will say on Wednesday, according to The Australian.

"We know there are dual citizens among Australians fighting with terrorists in the Middle East and yet officials have so far confirmed only one has lost their citizenship under the operation of the law."

Mr Dutton will call for a review of the how the law is applied.

He is also expected to signal plans to deploy more ASIO, ASIS and federal police officers to the Middle East and Indonesia to capture more foreign fighters attempting to return home.

It is understood security measures at the Canberra venue will be beefed up for Mr Dutton's address.


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Published 21 February 2018 7:20am
Updated 21 February 2018 7:25am
Source: AAP


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