Terrorism in Australia

Terrorists attacks have occurred in Australia over the country's history,{{cite book |author=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet |author-link=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (Australia) |url=http://www.dpmc.gov.au/publications/counter_terrorism/2_the_threat.cfm |title=Counter Terrorism White Paper: Securing Australia – Protecting our Community |archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20100223212400/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/117421/20100224-0824/www.dpmc.gov.au/publications/counter_terrorism/docs/counter-terrorism_white_paper.pdf |archive-date=23 February 2010 |isbn=978-1-921385-99-5 |via=Pandora Archive |format=PDF-1.63 MB |publisher=Dpmc.gov.au |date=22 February 2010 |access-date=10 March 2010}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} including the following notable incidents.

The Embassy of the USSR was attacked by a crude bomb on 17 January 1971 in Canberra.[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110449601/11952240 Crude bomb blasts Soviet Embassy] Canberra Times 18 January 1971

{{main|Sydney Yugoslav General Trade and Tourist Agency bombing}}

The Sydney Yugoslav General Trade and Tourist Agency bombing occurred in Haymarket, Sydney on 16 September 1972; the attack injured sixteen people. The perpetrators of the attack were believed to be Croatian separatists.

{{main|Sydney Hilton Hotel bombing}}

The Sydney Hilton Hotel bombing occurred on 13 February 1978; a bomb exploded outside the Hilton Hotel in George Street, Sydney, which was hosting the first Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. Two garbage collectors and a police officer were killed and eleven others were injured.

{{main|Family Court of Australia attacks}}

On 23 June 1980, David Opas, a judge of the Family Court, was shot dead outside his home in Woollahra. In March 1984, a bomb destroyed the Belrose home of fellow judge Richard Gee, who survived. In April, a bomb exploded in the Family Court building in Parramatta. In July, the wife of judge Ray Watson was killed when a bomb exploded on their doorstep in Greenwich. In July 1985 a bombing at a Jehovah's Witness hall in Casula killed the minister, Graham Wykes and injured 13 others.{{cite web |last=Taylor |first=Therese |title=Australian Terrorism: Traditions of Violence and the Family Court Bombings |url=http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/AUJlLawSoc/1992/8.pdf |access-date=11 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211235519/http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/AUJlLawSoc/1992/8.pdf |archive-date=11 February 2017 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }} (1992) 8 Australian Journal of Law & Society 1.

On 29 July 2015, 68-year-old Leonard John Warwick was arrested at Campbelltown, New South Wales. He was charged with 32 offences, including four counts of murder, one of attempted murder, and 13 counts of burning or maiming with an explosive substance.{{cite news |title=Alleged Family Court bomber fronts court |url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/breaking-news/alleged-family-court-bomber-fronts-court/news-story/93df819163dc73e28f5a638d96b272a1 |accessdate=23 March 2025 |work=The Daily Telegraph (on-line) |agency=AAP |date=30 July 2015}}{{cite news|title=Road to revenge|url=http://www.smh.com.au/national/road-to-revenge-20140824-3e8yo.html|accessdate=23 March 2025|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=30 August 2014}} On 3 September 2020, Warwick was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.{{Cite web|date=2020-09-03 |title=Family Court bomber destined to die in jail for 'calculated, violent' murders |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-09-03/family-court-bomber-leonard-warwick-jailed-for-life/12624080|access-date=2020-09-03|website=www.abc.net.au |language=en-AU}} He died in prison on 14 February 2025.{{cite news |author=Al-Khouri, Chantelle |title=Sydney's Family Court bomber dies while serving life in jail |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02-14/nsw-sydney-family-court-bomber-leonard-john-warwick-dead/104937958 |access-date=14 February 2025 |work=ABC News (Australia) |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=14 February 2025 |language=en-AU}}

At 2am on 29 November 1980, the day of the Queensland State election, a nitropril and fuel oil bomb was detonated with gelignite at the Iwasaki resort construction site north of Yeppoon.{{cite news |last=Slee |first=John |date=1980-12-13 |title=Yeppoon bombing - a problem in Japanese-Australian relations|work=The Sydney Morning Herald}}{{cite journal|last=Lee|first=Kun Jong|title="Quo vadis, Terra Australis?": Don'o Kim's The Chinaman|journal=Journal of Australian Studies|volume=39|issue=4|year=2015|pages=461–476|issn=1444-3058|doi=10.1080/14443058.2015.1074091|s2cid=146505788}} The blast created a seven-metre-wide crater in a block of holiday units under construction. Premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen and MP Ben Humphreys labelled the incident a terrorist attack,{{Cite Hansard|jurisdiction=Commonwealth of Australia |house=House of Representatives |title=Iwasaki Tourist Resort: Bombing |url=http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;adv=yes;db=HANSARD80;id=hansard80%2Fhansardr80%2F1980-12-02%2F0025;orderBy=_fragment_number,doc_date-rev;query=Dataset%3Ahansardr,hansardr80%20Decade%3A%221980s%22%20Year%3A%221980%22%20Month%3A%2212%22;rec=2;resCount=Default |date=December 2, 1980 |page_start=219 |page_end=219 |speaker=Ben Humphreys |position=Member for Griffith}}{{cite journal|last=Gistitin|first=Carol|title=The Iwasaki Resort|journal=Queensland History Journal|volume=22|issue=4|year=2014|pages=333–348}} and a caller to Rockhampton's The Morning Bulletin newspaper claimed responsibility on behalf of the "Queensland Republican Army".{{cite news |author= |date=1981-05-15 |title=Man said he bombed Iwasaki, court told|work=The Sydney Morning Herald}} The media saw the motivation behind the attack as increasing resentment over Japanese land ownership in Queensland, while Petersen claimed that it was a racist attack. Two men, Eric John Geissman and Kerry Geissman, were committed to trial on 15 May 1981. Both were found not guilty after questions were raised regarding police misconduct in the investigation, a common problem in Queensland at the time.

On 17 December 1980, Sydney Turkish Consul General Şarık Arıyak and his security attaché Engin Sever were assassinated by two people on motorcycles wielding firearms in Sydney. The Justice Commandos of the Armenian Genocide claimed responsibility but the culprits were never identified and no charges were laid. The Consul General was gunned down despite having taken precautions in the form of not travelling in the official consulate Mercedes Benz vehicle and instead being chauffeured in the trailing security attaché's car.Global Terrorism Database; Michael M. Gunter, p. 69. In December 2019, it was announced that New South Wales Joint Counter Terrorism Team had established Strike Force Esslemont to re-investigate the murders.{{cite web |title=Operation Esslemont |url=https://www.ata-a.org.au/operation-esslemont/ |website=ata-a.org |publisher=ATA Alliance (Australian Turkish Advocacy Alliance) |access-date=18 December 2020 |language=en-AU}} The reward, for information that leads to an arrest and conviction, was increased from {{AUD|250,000}} to A$1 million.{{cite news |last=Fox |first=Aine |title=$1m reward for Turkish diplomat's killing in Sydney |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/1m-reward-for-turkish-diplomat-s-killing-in-sydney-20191217-p53ktu.html |access-date=18 December 2020 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=17 December 2019 |language=en}} This was the first ever million-dollar reward offered in Australia for an act of terrorism.{{cite web |title=Assassination of Turkish Consul-General and his bodyguard |url=https://www.police.nsw.gov.au/can_you_help_us/rewards/1000000_reward/assassination_of_turkish_consul-general_and_his_bodyguard |website=police.nsw.gov.au |publisher=Government of New South Wales |access-date=18 December 2020 |date=17 December 2019 |quote=Counter Terrorism and Special Tactics Commander, Assistant Commissioner Mark Walton, welcomed the reward – the first $1 million offered in relation to a terrorism act.}}

In August 2020 police Marine Area Command divers searched Greenwich Point in relation to the assassination.{{cite news |title=Police divers conduct underwater search for items related to Turkish diplomat's death |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-08-13/police-divers-conduct-underwater-search-in-sydney-harbour/12553156 |access-date=18 December 2020 |work=ABC News |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=13 August 2020 |language=en-AU |format=Video}}

{{Main|Jack van Tongeren}}

Throughout the 1980s, the Western Australian neo-Nazi group "The Australian Nationalist Movement", led by Jack van Tongeren, engaged in a series of bombings of Asian restaurants and businesses, political violence, murder of a suspected informant and other acts to intimidate the Asian population. Van Tongeren was eventually imprisoned for a long period of time until his release in the early to mid-2000s. He resumed his activities until he was re-arrested in 2004 as part of Operation Atlantic, prompting a judge to order him to leave the state.[http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/08/07/1091732133392.html "Supremacist leader in court"] theage.com.au. AAP. 7 August 2004. Retrieved 10 March 2015

In February 2004 three Chinese restaurants in Perth were firebombed in the early hours of the morning.{{Cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2004/s1036156.htm|title=AM Archive - Racist attacks against Perth restaurants|website=abc.net.au|access-date=2019-05-05}} The police also identified a plot to harm Jim McGinty and his family, two police officers and an ethnic community leader, and raided Van Tongeren's home.{{Cite web|url=https://www.iol.co.za/news/world/australia-faces-up-to-race-violence-again-218589|title=Australia faces up to race violence - again {{!}} IOL News|website=iol.co.za|language=en|access-date=2019-05-05}} After two separate man-hunts, the second after van Tongeren skipped bail, Van Tongeren was found and arrested in the Boddington area south-east of Perth.{{Cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2004/s1170962.htm|title=PM - WA police arrest white supremacist leader|website=abc.net.au|access-date=2019-05-05}} Van Tongeren was found guilty of planning to bomb Chinese restaurants in Perth and of organising a destructive hate campaign in 2007, but was given a 2-year suspended sentence on account of ill health.{{Cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2007/s1932332.htm|title=The World Today - ANM leaders guilty of bomb plans|website=abc.net.au|access-date=2019-05-05}} His right-hand man, John Van Blitterswyk, was given a 2-year, 4-month sentence.{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/racist-jailed-for-stunt-bomb-plot-20070525-gdq80m.html|title=Racist jailed for 'stunt bomb plot'|date=2007-05-24|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=2019-05-05}}

The bombing of the Israeli Consulate and Hakoah Club in Sydney occurred on 23 December 1982. The two bombings occurred on the same day within five hours of each other. The initial case led to a single arrest though charges were later dropped. In 2011, the NSW police and Australian federal police reopened the case citing new leads.[http://jewishnews.net.au/jntv/2012/08/29/1982-hakoah-club-and-israeli-consulate-bombings-have-been-reopened/2582 "1982 HAKOAH CLUB AND ISRAELI CONSULATE BOMBINGS HAVE BEEN REOPENED."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141221012350/http://jewishnews.net.au/jntv/2012/08/29/1982-hakoah-club-and-israeli-consulate-bombings-have-been-reopened/2582 |date=21 December 2014 }} JewishNews.net.au. 29 August 2012.Mercer, Neil. [https://www.smh.com.au/nsw/police-have-new-lead-in-hakoah-club-bombing-20121209-2b3k7.html "Police have new lead in Hakoah Club bombing."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924213900/http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/police-have-new-lead-in-hakoah-club-bombing-20121209-2b3k7.html |date=24 September 2015 }} The Sydney Morning Herald. 12 September 2012.[http://mobile.news.com.au/national/hakoah-bombing-mystery-re-opens/story-e6frfkp9-1226458015049 "Hakoah bombing mystery re-opens."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141221020201/http://mobile.news.com.au/national/hakoah-bombing-mystery-re-opens/story-e6frfkp9-1226458015049 |date=21 December 2014 }} News.com.au 25 August 2012.[http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2012-08-26/police-reopen-1982-sydney-bombings-case/4223184 "Police reopen 1982 Sydney bombings case."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141221013831/http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2012-08-26/police-reopen-1982-sydney-bombings-case/4223184 |date=21 December 2014 }} ABC News. Sunday 26 AUG 2012.

The Melbourne Turkish consulate bombing occurred on 23 November 1986; a car bomb exploded in a carpark beneath the Turkish Consulate in South Yarra, Melbourne, killing the bomber who failed to correctly set up the explosive device. Levon Demirian, a Sydney resident with links to the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, was charged over the attack and served 10 years.[http://www.tkb.org/Group.jsp?groupID=4036 Greek Bulgarian armenian Front] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071018160522/http://tkb.org/Group.jsp?groupID=4036 |date=18 October 2007 }} MIPT

In 1989, two Skinhead youths, inspired by the Australian-based neo-Nazi National Action group, fired shotguns at the home of African National Congress representative Eddie Funde in an assassination attempt. Head of National Action, James Saleam, was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in jail for ordering the assassination.{{Cite web|url=https://www.jta.org/1991/05/16/archive/australian-neo-nazi-sentenced-for-ordering-attempt-on-anc-man|title=Australian Neo-nazi Sentenced for Ordering Attempt on Anc Man|date=1991-05-16|website=Jewish Telegraphic Agency|language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-05}} The trial judge described the assassination as "an act of naked political terrorism".{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/australias-racist-tag-is-myth-heavily-hyped-20100201-n8s1.html|title=Australia's 'racist' tag is myth heavily hyped|last=Henderson|first=Gerard|date=2010-02-01|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=2019-05-05}}

In 1995, terrorists firebombed the French Consulate in Perth.{{cite news |title=French Consular Office in Australia Destroyed by Fire |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-06-18-mn-14597-story.html |access-date=29 January 2015 |work=Los Angeles Times |agency=AP (Associated Press) |date=18 June 1995 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160119174222/http://articles.latimes.com/1995-06-18/news/mn-14597_1_nuclear-testing |archive-date=19 January 2016 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}

{{main|Peter James Knight}}

On 16 July 2001, Peter James Knight, described as an "obsessive anti-abortionist" who lived alone in a makeshift camp in rural New South Wales, attacked the East Melbourne Family Planning clinic, a privately run clinic providing abortions, carrying a rifle, and large quantities of kerosene and lighters. He shot and killed a security guard at the clinic before his capture and arrest. He was charged and convicted of murder, and was sentenced to life imprisonment with a non-parole period of 23 years.{{cite web|url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/11/19/1037599408221.html|title=Anti-abortion killer jailed for life|work=theage.com.au|date=19 November 2002|access-date=29 January 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019112448/http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/11/19/1037599408221.html|archive-date=19 October 2012|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} Australian terrorism academic Clive Williams listed the attack amongst incidents of politically motivated violence in Australia.{{Cite news|last=Williams|first=Clive |date=9 September 2006|title=No, minister we are not free of terror|periodical=The Canberra Times}}

{{main|2014 Endeavour Hills stabbings}}

On 24 September 2014, an 18-year-old man, Numan Haider, was shot and killed by police outside Endeavour Hills police station. Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Luke Cornelius said Haider had been asked to come to the police station to discuss behaviour "which had been causing some concern". When the man arrived outside the station, he stabbed the two officers as they went to meet him. The two stabbed officers, one from Victoria Police and one from the Australian Federal Police, were working together as part of a joint operation on counter-terrorism between the AFP and Victoria Police.{{cite news |last1=Houston |first1=Cameron |last2=Butt |first2=Craig |last3=Mills |first3=Tammy |last4=Spooner |first4=Rania |last5=Zielinski |first5=Caroline |last6=Cook |first6=Henrietta |title=Terror suspect shot dead after two police officers stabbed in Endeavour Hills |url=http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/terror-suspect-shot-dead-after-two-police-officers-stabbed-in-endeavour-hills-20140923-10l5d4.html#ixzz3EBBFXgEi |access-date=10 March 2015 |work=The Age |location=Melbourne |date=24 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150329142838/http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/terror-suspect-shot-dead-after-two-police-officers-stabbed-in-endeavour-hills-20140923-10l5d4.html#ixzz3EBBFXgEi |archive-date=29 March 2015 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }} Haider was found to be carrying two knives and an Islamic State flag.{{cite news |last=Silvester |first=John |author-link=John Silvester (writer) |title=Melbourne terror shooting: Numan Haider 'planned to behead Victoria Police officers, drape bodies in IS flag' |url=https://www.smh.com.au/victoria/melbourne-terror-shooting-numan-haider-planned-to-behead-victoria-police-officers-drape-bodies-in-is-flag-20140924-10lb4i.html |access-date=24 September 2014 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald|issue=24 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140924062235/http://www.smh.com.au/victoria/melbourne-terror-shooting-numan-haider-planned-to-behead-victoria-police-officers-drape-bodies-in-is-flag-20140924-10lb4i.html |archive-date=24 September 2014 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}

{{Main|Lindt Cafe siege}}

On 15 December 2014, Man Haron Monis, took 17 people hostage inside a Lindt chocolate café in Martin Place, Sydney. He forced hostages to hold up a jihadist black flag against a window of the café. In the early hours of 16 December, police breached the café and fatally shot Monis following the escape of several hostages. Two hostages also died, while another four people, including a police officer, were injured in the incident.{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-12-16/sydney-siege-martin-place-brush-with-terrorism-tony-abbott/5969614|title=Sydney siege: A 'brush with terrorism', perpetrator 'cloaked actions' with Islamic State symbolism, Tony Abbott says|author=Griffiths, Emma|date=16 Dec 2014|work=ABC News|access-date=18 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141217085131/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-12-16/sydney-siege-martin-place-brush-with-terrorism-tony-abbott/5969614|archive-date=17 December 2014|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}{{cite news|url=https://www.economist.com/news/asia/21636793-caf-siege-will-spark-fresh-debate-about-vulnerability-terrorism-nightmare-comes-true|title=A nightmare comes true|date=18 December 2014|newspaper=The Economist|access-date=18 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150122043727/http://www.economist.com/news/asia/21636793-caf-siege-will-spark-fresh-debate-about-vulnerability-terrorism-nightmare-comes-true|archive-date=22 January 2015|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}

The designation of the 2014 Lindt Cafe siege, also known as the Sydney hostage crisis or the Martin Place siege, has been subject to debate among terrorism experts and news commentators. Initially, during the early stages of the incident, the Australian government and NSW authorities did not label the event as a terrorist attack;David Wroe and Lisa Cox, [http://www.canberratimes.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/martin-place-siege-tony-abbott-convenes-national-security-committee-20141215-127brq.html "Martin Place siege: Tony Abbott convenes National Security Committee,"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150206024902/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/martin-place-siege-tony-abbott-convenes-national-security-committee-20141215-127brq.html |date=6 February 2015 }} The Canberra Times, 15 December 2014.[https://www.economist.com/news/asia/21636487-sydneys-business-district-locked-down-caf-customers-become-hostages-siege-martin-place Terrorism in Australia: The siege of Martin Place,"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306020009/http://www.economist.com/news/asia/21636487-sydneys-business-district-locked-down-caf-customers-become-hostages-siege-martin-place |date=6 March 2016 }} The Economist, 15 December 2014. however, as the siege continued, NSW police authorised the engagement of the state's counterterrorism task force, treating the incident as an act of terrorism.Nick Ralston and Emma Partridge, [https://www.smh.com.au/nsw/martin-place-siege-being-treated-as-terrorist-attack-police-confirm-20141215-127mh5.html "Martin Place siege being treated as terrorist attack, police confirm,"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141227081135/http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/martin-place-siege-being-treated-as-terrorist-attack-police-confirm-20141215-127mh5.html |date=27 December 2014 }} The Sydney Morning Herald, 15 December 2014. Commentators have debated whether the perpetrator of the attack, Man Haron Monis, was in fact a terrorist and whether his actions can be classified as an act of terrorism. One terrorism expert described Monis's actions as those of a "lone-wolf terrorist ... driven by a desire for attention and to be in the spotlight."{{cite news|title=Man Haron Monis: Why did he carry out Sydney siege?|url=http://www.news.com.au/national/nsw-act/man-haron-monis-why-did-he-carry-out-sydney-siege/story-fnj3rq0y-1227159748676|access-date=23 December 2014|work=News.com.au|date=17 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141218031550/http://www.news.com.au/national/nsw-act/man-haron-monis-why-did-he-carry-out-sydney-siege/story-fnj3rq0y-1227159748676|archive-date=18 December 2014|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}{{cite news|last=Fraser|first=Jill|title=Australian expert warns of 'lone wolf' terror risk|url=http://www.aa.com.tr/en/news/437309--australian-expert-warns-of-lone-wolf-terror-risk|access-date=23 December 2014|work=Anadolou Agency|date=18 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141223054430/http://www.aa.com.tr/en/news/437309--australian-expert-warns-of-lone-wolf-terror-risk|archive-date=23 December 2014|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} Another wrote in an opinion column that the attack "was very different from first-generation or second-generation terrorist attacks{{mdash}}but it was terrorism, and terrorism of a brutal and more unpredictable sort."{{cite news|last=Wesley|first=Michael|author-link=Michael Wesley|title=Sydney siege: Welcome to Jihad 3.0, the third wave of terrorism and the most unpredictable|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/opinion/sydney-siege-welcome-to-jihad-30-the-third-wave-of-terrorism-and-the-most-unpredictable/story-e6frg6zo-1227162441570|work=The Australian|date=20 December 2014}} Scott Stewart supervisor of the analysis of terrorism and security issues for Statfor said that this hostage-incident exhibits many of the elements associated with grassroots terrorism.{{cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/stratfor/2014/12/18/the-sydney-hostage-incident-was-grassroots-terrorism/|title=The Sydney Hostage Incident Was Grassroots Terrorism|author=Stewart, Scott|date=18 December 2014|work=Forbes|access-date=26 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141226015317/http://www.forbes.com/sites/stratfor/2014/12/18/the-sydney-hostage-incident-was-grassroots-terrorism/|archive-date=26 December 2014|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} By contrast, criminologist Mark Lauchs stated that the event "was not about religion and neither was it a terrorist attack." Media outlets have also provided conflicting designations for Monis; John Lehmann, editor of The Daily Telegraph, wrote how Monis filled the criteria of an Islamic State terrorist,Lehmann, John "[http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/opinion/lets-be-honest-man-haron-monis-was-an-is-terrorist/story-fni0cwl5-1227158489614 Let's be honest: Man Haron Monis was an IS terrorist]" The Daily Telegraph. 17 December 2014. while a columnist for The Guardian wrote how the designation of a terrorist is misplaced and would only serve the interests of ISIL.Anne Ally. [https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/dec/16/sydney-siege-dont-call-man-haron-monis-a-terrorist-it-only-helps-isis Sydney siege: "Don't call Man Haron Monis a 'terrorist' - it only helps Isis."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170412062136/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/dec/16/sydney-siege-dont-call-man-haron-monis-a-terrorist-it-only-helps-isis |date=12 April 2017 }} The Guardian. 16 December 2014. On 15 January 2015, Australia's Treasurer Joe Hockey declared the siege in Sydney's Martin Place as a terrorist incident for insurance purposes.{{cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/national/breaking-news/martin-place-siege-an-act-of-terror-govt/story-e6frfku9-1227185927134|title=Martin Place siege an act of terror: Govt|date=15 January 2015|work=News Ltd|access-date=15 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150115075838/http://www.news.com.au/national/breaking-news/martin-place-siege-an-act-of-terror-govt/story-e6frfku9-1227185927134|archive-date=15 January 2015|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}

The difference between terrorism and terrorising acts was noted in one analysis as "enormously important"{{mdash}}in Monis's case, terrorism "was clearly an element, but he was coming to the end of his rope with a variety of legal processes; there was clearly some mental instability."{{cite news|last=Feneley|first=Rick|title=Sydney siege: Man Haron Monis, 'humanitarian' and terrorist|url=https://www.smh.com.au/nsw/sydney-siege-man-haron-monis-humanitarian-and-terrorist-20141219-12ajn5.html|access-date=22 December 2014|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=20 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150221045528/http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/sydney-siege-man-haron-monis-humanitarian-and-terrorist-20141219-12ajn5.html|archive-date=21 February 2015|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} One argument was that the gunman's lack of ties to any movement did not preclude his being a terrorist as it is "an inclusive club".{{cite news|last=Maley|first=Jacqueline|title=Let there be no doubt: Monis was a terrorist|url=https://www.smh.com.au/comment/let-there-be-no-doubt-monis-was-a-terrorist-20141219-129aic.html|access-date=20 December 2014|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=20 December 2014}}

Nick O'Brien, associate professor of counter terrorism at Charles Sturt University has said Islamic State's magazine claim that the Sydney siege gunman is a righteous jihadist should not be lightly dismissed.{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-12-31/obrien-why-islamic-state-glorified-the-sydney-siege/5993830 |title=Why Islamic State glorified the Sydney siege |author=O'Brien, Nick |date=31 December 2014 |work=The Drum |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=5 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150105093631/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-12-31/obrien-why-islamic-state-glorified-the-sydney-siege/5993830 |archive-date=5 January 2015 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }} Dr David Martin Jones, Senior Lecturer at the School of Government, University of Tasmania has said not to underestimate the politically destabilising intent of Monis's lone-actor violence, as it is a considered tactic and a strategic goal of ISIL.{{cite news|url=http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=16983|title=Lone wolves, stray dogs and leaderless resistance|author=Jones, David|date=5 January 2015|work=On Line Opinion|access-date=5 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150105103531/http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=16983|archive-date=5 January 2015|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}

{{main|2015 Parramatta shooting}}

On 2 October 2015, an Iranian-born Iraqi-Kurdish youth shot dead 58-year-old Curtis Cheng, an accountant who worked for the New South Wales Police Force, outside the Parramatta Police headquarters.{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-10-03/nsw-police-headquarters-gunman-was-radicalised-youth/6825028|title=Gunman who shot dead NSW police employee was radicalised youth|work=ABC News|access-date=29 April 2016|date=3 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161223054200/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-10-03/nsw-police-headquarters-gunman-was-radicalised-youth/6825028|archive-date=23 December 2016|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/oct/03/parramatta-shooting-gunman-was-radicalised-15-year-old-reports-say|title=Parramatta shooting of police employee by 15-year-old 'was act of terrorism'|work=The Guardian|access-date=29 April 2016|date=4 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170301113420/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/oct/03/parramatta-shooting-gunman-was-radicalised-15-year-old-reports-say|archive-date=1 March 2017|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/nsw/parramatta-shooting-gunman-identified-as-farhad-jabar-khalil-mohammad-20151003-gk0jze.html|title=Parramatta shooting: Gunman identified as Farhad Khalil Mohammad Jabar|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=29 April 2016|date=3 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151003062358/http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/parramatta-shooting-gunman-identified-as-farhad-jabar-khalil-mohammad-20151003-gk0jze.html|archive-date=3 October 2015|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} The terrorist then shot at special constables guarding the building, and was shot dead by them. NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione said "We believe that his actions were politically motivated and therefore linked to terrorism." Four other 'alleged Islamic State members' were arrested and charged in relation to the shooting.{{cite news |last=Rubinsztein-Dunlop |first=Sean |title=Fourth alleged IS member charged over Parramatta police shooting |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-04-27/police-charge-fourth-alleged-is-member-over-parramatta-shooting/7363738 |access-date=29 April 2016 |work=ABC News |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=27 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160429220029/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-04-27/police-charge-fourth-alleged-is-member-over-parramatta-shooting/7363738 |archive-date=29 April 2016 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}

On 10 September 2016, Islamist Ihsas Khan attacked a man in a park in Minto, New South Wales. The victim was chased and repeatedly stabbed or slashed with a knife. Khan was charged with attempted murder and with committing a terrorist act.{{cite news|last1=Massola|first1=James|last2=Olding|first2=Rachel|title='Someone is going to die today': Man charged with committing terrorist act and attempted murder|url=https://www.smh.com.au/nsw/man-charged-with-committing-a-terrorist-act-and-attempted-murder-in-sydney-20160910-grdlh8.html|access-date=12 September 2016|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=11 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160911153829/http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/man-charged-with-committing-a-terrorist-act-and-attempted-murder-in-sydney-20160910-grdlh8.html|archive-date=11 September 2016|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} Crown prosecutor Peter Neil said there was evidence to suggest Khan had been planning to attack a civilian at random on September 11 to coincide with the anniversary of the Al Qaeda attacks on the United States.{{cite news |last1=Griffiths |first1=Meredith |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-04-30/minto-stabbing-sees-accused-terrorist-on-trial/9712110 |title='They killed our people, he should be killed too': Terrorism accused on trial over stabbing |work=ABC News |agency=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=8 December 2024 |date=30 April 2018 |language=en-AU}}

{{main|2017 Queanbeyan stabbing attacks}}

On 7 April 2017, a pair of 15- and 16-year-old boys entered a service station in the city of Queanbeyan, New South Wales and stabbed the attendant, 29-year-old Zeeshan Akbar of Pakistani descent, who died at the scene. Two other men were also attacked and injured nearby. Elsewhere a man was carjacked, struck with a hammer and stabbed. The 16-year-old's mother had told police that she believed her son had been radicalised in recent weeks and that he sympathised with Islamic State and had also posted concerning posts on Facebook. The police treated this as an act of terrorism. The two were arrested after a car chase. On 1 May 2020 at the NSW Supreme Court, both boys were sentenced. The 16-year-old received a jail term of {{frac|35|1|2}} years. The 15-year-old received 18 years and 4 months.{{cite news |last=Fedor |first=Kelly |title=Teenager jailed over murder of service station worker and writing "IS" in his blood |url=https://www.9news.com.au/national/queanbeyan-stabbing-attack-teenager-jailed-over-murder-writing-isis-in-blood/432ea185-0a9f-400c-aab9-04d6c468b20e |access-date=22 May 2020 |work=9news.com.au |publisher=Nine Digital Pty Ltd |date=1 May 2020}}

{{main|2017 Brighton siege}}

On 5 June 2017, 29-year-old Somali-born Islamist Yacqub Khayre shot dead receptionist Kai Hao in the foyer at a serviced apartment complex in the suburb of Brighton in Melbourne. He then took a female escort hostage in an apartment. He contacted both the police and the media. Police responded and Khayre died in a shoot-out with three police officers wounded. Khayre had referred to ISIS and al-Qaeda in a phone call to the media. In 2010 he had been acquitted of the earlier Holsworthy Barracks terror plot.

Momena Shoma, a Bangladeshi Islamist, stabbed a 56-year-old man in the neck while he was asleep at his Callistemon Rise home in Mill Park, Victoria.{{Cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=11991938|title=Student wearing burqa 'stabbed' man in his sleep while daughter watched|date=2018-02-10|work=The New Zealand Herald|access-date=2018-02-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180221113525/http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=11991938|archive-date=21 February 2018|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} She was charged with engaging in a terrorist act and it was alleged she was inspired by terror group Islamic State.{{Cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/national/victoria/crime/momena-shoma-charged-for-terror-act-after-allegedly-stabbing-a-melbourne-man-in-the-neck-during-homestay/news-story/0d72e42660c206089479360691dc0a06|title=Foreign student charged over Melbourne terror attack|work=News.com.au|access-date=2018-02-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180224123136/http://www.news.com.au/national/victoria/crime/momena-shoma-charged-for-terror-act-after-allegedly-stabbing-a-melbourne-man-in-the-neck-during-homestay/news-story/0d72e42660c206089479360691dc0a06|archive-date=24 February 2018|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} She pled guilty to "engaging in a terrorist act for the advancing of a political, religious or ideological cause" and in June 2019 was sentenced to 42 years jail, with a non-parole period of 31 years, 6 months.{{cite news |last1=Oaten |first1=James |title=Student jailed for 42 years over stabbing terror attack on sleeping homestay host |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-06-05/bangladeshi-homestay-guest-sentenced-for-engaging-in-terror-act/11180560 |access-date=9 December 2024 |work=ABC News |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=5 June 2019 |language=en-AU}}

In December 2021 Shoma was sentenced to serve an additional 6 years after attacking another inmate with garden shears and pleading guilty to two more terrorism offences for that attack.{{cite news |last1=Tran |first1=Danny |title=Convicted terrorist sentenced to more jail time for 'cold blooded' attack on inmate |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-12-03/momena-shoma-sentenced-to-further-prison-inmate-stabbing/100671868 |access-date=9 December 2024 |work=ABC News |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=3 December 2021 |language=en-AU}}

{{Main|2018 Melbourne stabbing attack}}

On 9 November 2018, an attack took place in Melbourne, when Hassan Khalif Shire Ali set fire to a Holden Rodeo utility on Bourke Street in the city's Central Business District. He then stabbed three pedestrians, killing one and wounding the other two. During the attack, the Holden "exploded" from the fire. Hassan Khalif was shot in the chest by a Victoria Police officer and died in hospital.{{cite news |url=https://www.news.com.au/national/victoria/car-on-fire-in-melbournes-bourke-st-mall/news-story/47635c260e97cf932516036aea0f336a |title=One person dead after stabbing in Melbourne CBD, man shot by police |newspaper=News.com.au |date=9 November 2018 |access-date=9 November 2018 |quote=I was walking up Bourke St ... and we heard this loud explosion. I thought it was a car backfiring but there was flames coming out of the car. It then veered to the left ... and exploded in flames,|last1=Chang |first1=Charis |last2=Molloy |first2=Shannon |last3=Bedo |first3=Stephanie }}-Witness

Hassan Khalif's younger brother, Ali Khalif Shire Ali, was arrested in November 2017 for planning to commit a mass shooting at Melbourne's New Year's Eve celebration.{{Cite web |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/bourke-street-attacker-failed-in-his-plan-to-cause-explosion|title=Bourke Street attacker "failed in his plan to cause explosion"|date=2018-11-10|website=SBS News|language=en|access-date=2018-11-10}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.news.com.au/national/victoria/accused-terrorist-to-face-supreme-court-trial/news-story/d61d88f4cf8ca943ddb92614a35c9b61|title=Accused terrorist to face Supreme Court trial|last=Cavanagh|first=Rebekah|date=2018-06-20|website=News.com.au|language=en|access-date=2018-11-10}} In May 2020 Ali Khalif was sentenced to ten years' jail, with a seven-and-a-half-year non-parole period.{{cite news |last=Percy |first=Karen |title=Federation Square New Year's Eve terror plotter Ali Khalif Shire Ali sentenced to 10 years' jail |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-21/ali-khalif-shire-ali-sentenced-new-years-terrorist-plan/12270274 |access-date=21 May 2020 |work=ABC News |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=21 May 2020 |language=en-AU}}

On 19 December 2020, a knifeman killed two elderly people after storming their home and then tried to attack police officers on a highway in Brisbane. The attacker, who was shot dead by police, had been identified as a 22-year-old-man who had a long history of mental health issues and escaped a GPS-tracking bracelet the previous night. He was previously arrested in early 2019 attempting to travel on a one-way ticket to Somalia and arrested "on suspicion of an attempted foreign incursion". Allegations against him were dropped by the AFP "due to a lack of evidence". The AFP spoke after the incident and said that there was no terror threat posed by the man.{{Cite web|url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/australia-brisbane-couple-death-terrorism-suspect-shot-police-489101|title=Australia describes Brisbane couple's death as 'terrorism incident'|website=CNA}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.9news.com.au/videos/health/queensland-murder-being-treated-as-terrorist-attack/ckiu1tiuw002x0gnwb3lcjqgf|title=9News - Latest news and headlines from Australia and the world|website=9news.com.au}}{{Cite web |date=2020-12-17 |title=No terror threat from man shot dead by police on Brisbane motorway, AFP says |url=http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/dec/17/no-terror-threat-from-man-shot-dead-by-police-on-brisbane-motorway-afp-says |access-date=2022-03-15 |website=The Guardian}}

{{Main|Wieambilla police shootings}}

Brothers Nathaniel and Gareth Train, along with Gareth's wife Stacey, murdered two police officers who they knew were conducting a concern-for-welfare check for Nathaniel. They then killed their next-door neighbour and attempted to kill two other police officers before posting a gloating YouTube video in dialogue with an omnibus of troll grievances from the fringes of right-wing movements such as unverified anti-vaccination conspiracy theories, disaffected off-grid lifestylers and pro-gun-agenda Christian right. A shootout with police ensued later that night and the three of them were killed.

{{Main|2024 Wakeley church stabbing}}

On 15 April 2024, a knife attack took place at Christ The Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley, a suburb of Sydney, Australia. During a live-streamed sermon, the 16-year-old male attacker walked up to the pulpit, first stabbing bishop Mari Emmanuel, an Iraqi-born Assyrian Australian, resulting in permanent vision loss in Emmanuel's right eye, before stabbing a priest and injuring another.{{Cite news|last=Molloy|first=Shannon|date=16 April 2024 |title='Act of terror': Alleged attacker yelled 'Allahu Akbar' after stabbing Sydney bishop |url=https://www.news.com.au/national/nsw-act/chilling-vision-of-grinning-alleged-attacker-of-sydney-bishop/news-story/8e3eb0fd4a9799e0989d643b2cad589b |access-date=16 April 2024 |website=News.com.au|language=en}} The attacker said in Arabic, "If he didn't insult my prophet, I wouldn't have come here".{{Cite news |last=Baker |first=Mark |date=16 April 2024 |title=Tensions rise in Australia after a bishop and priest are wounded in a knife attack in a church |url=https://apnews.com/article/australia-church-stabbing-bishop-emannuel-126a140f1a38aeb9d63b2c7b744f588f |work=Associated Press}}

{{main|2024 Melbourne synagogue attack}}

On 6 December 2024 the Adass Israel Synagogue in Ripponlea, Melbourne was deliberately set on fire. The attack was investigated as a terrorist incident.{{cite news |title=Police confirm Melbourne synagogue fire being treated as terror attack |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-12-09/melbourne-synagogue-fire-adass-israel-police-investigate/104700618 |access-date=9 December 2024 |work=ABC News |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=8 December 2024 |language=en-AU}}

Australian police claim to have disrupted a significant number of terrorism plots since 2014.{{cite news|last=Innis|first=Michelle|title=Australia Says It Foiled a Terrorist Plot|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/22/world/australia/melbourne-australia-christmas-bomb-plot.html|access-date=23 December 2016|newspaper=The New York Times|date=22 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161223045940/http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/22/world/australia/melbourne-australia-christmas-bomb-plot.html|archive-date=23 December 2016|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}

In 1975, the Palestinian Black September terrorist group and the Australian branch of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) terrorist group plotted to assassinate future Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke, then Australian Labor Party president, along with a number of notable journalists seen as being pro-Israel. A Black September member visited Australia under the guise of a journalist and was provided with materials from Australian PFLP members and returned to Israel; the Black September member who intended to carry out the attack was killed by Israeli forces before he could return to Australia.[http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/palestinian-plot-to-kill-hawke/2006/12/31/1167500010729.html "Palestinian plot to kill Hawke."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150918054335/http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/palestinian-plot-to-kill-hawke/2006/12/31/1167500010729.html |date=18 September 2015 }} The Age. 31 December 2006.

{{main|Faheem Khalid Lodhi}}

Faheem Khalid Lodhi is an Australian architect accused of an October 2003 plot to bomb the national electricity grid or Sydney defence sites in the cause of violent jihad. He was convicted by a New South Wales Supreme Court jury in June 2006 on terrorism-related offences,[http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19517154-2,00.html Lodhi guilty on terror charges]

[http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/lodhi-gets-20-years/2006/08/23/1156012586528.html Lodhi 'deserves' 20 years] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070312174111/http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/lodhi-gets-20-years/2006/08/23/1156012586528.html |date=12 March 2007 }}

[http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20225106-601,00.html Lodhi jailed for 20 years over terror plot] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070312214709/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20225106-601,00.html |date=12 March 2007 }} namely:

• Preparation for terrorist attack, by seeking information for the purpose of constructing explosive devices
• Seeking information and collecting maps of the Sydney electricity supply system and possessing 38 aerial photos of military installations in preparation for terrorist attacks
• Possessing terrorist manuals detailing how to manufacture poisons, detonators, explosives and incendiary devices

In his judgement, Justice Anthony Whealy illustrated that Lodhi's behaviour breached the rules under the Anti Terrorism Act 2004 (Cth),{{cite Legislation AU|Cth|act|aa2004187/sch1.html|Anti-Terrorism Act 2004}}. Crimes Act 1914 (Cth), the Criminal Code and the Crimes (Internationally Protected Persons) Act 1976 (Cth){{cite AustLII|NSWSC|691|2006|litigants=R v Lodhi |date=23 August 2006 |courtname=auto}}.

His intended targets were the national electricity supply system, the Victoria Barracks, HMAS Penguin naval base, and Holsworthy Barracks. Justice Anthony Whealy commented at sentencing that Lodhi had "the intent of advancing a political, religious or ideological cause, namely violent jihad" to "instill terror into members of the public so that they could never again feel free from the threat of bombing in Australia."{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2006/s1722511.htm |title=Sydney terrorism suspect jailed for 20 years |last=Sales |first=Leigh |author-link=Leigh Sales |date=23 August 2006 |website=Lateline |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=2016-03-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106044202/http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2006/s1722511.htm |archive-date=6 November 2012 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}

Accordingly, Whealy said the sentence to be imposed "must be a substantial one to reflect the important principles of deterrence and denunciation. In relation to count 2 the appropriate sentence, in my view, is one of imprisonment for a term of 20 years. The sentence is to commence on 22 April 2004 and to expire on 21 April 2024."

{{main|Neil Prakash}}

Neil Prakash is a former Buddhist from Melbourne who became a jihadist and changed his name to name Abu Khaled al-Cambodi.{{cite web |url=http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/from-buddhist-to-jihadist-melbourne-man-neil-prakashs-journey-to-islamic-state-20150422-1mrb4j.html |title=From Buddhist to jihadist: Melbourne man Neil Prakash's journey to Islamic State |last=Calligeros |first=Marissa |date=April 23, 2015 |website=The Age |publisher=Fairfax Media |access-date=2016-03-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160409055753/http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/from-buddhist-to-jihadist-melbourne-man-neil-prakashs-journey-to-islamic-state-20150422-1mrb4j.html |archive-date=9 April 2016 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}

He was linked to a number of domestic terror threats, including an alleged Anzac Day terror plot in Melbourne and the shooting death of NSW police worker Curtis Cheng in western Sydney in 2015. Later, he fled to Syria and became a senior recruiter for the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, appearing in propaganda videos and magazines with the intention of recruiting people to commit acts of terrorism.

Prakash was reportedly killed by a targeted US air strike in northern Iraq in May 2016.{{cite web|url=http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2016/05/05/death-top-recruiter-doesnt-eliminate-threat-expert-warns|title=Death of top IS recruiter 'doesn't eliminate threat', expert warns|work=News|access-date=12 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160506044355/http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2016/05/05/death-top-recruiter-doesnt-eliminate-threat-expert-warns|archive-date=6 May 2016|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull commented: "Neil Prakash's death is a very, very positive development in the war against Daesh and the war against terror".{{cite web|url=http://www.odt.co.nz/news/world/australia/382160/operative-reportedly-killed-iraq|title=PM hails death of top IS recruiter|date=5 May 2016|access-date=12 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160506074559/http://www.odt.co.nz/news/world/australia/382160/operative-reportedly-killed-iraq|archive-date=6 May 2016|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} The Herald Sun later reported that Australian security officials were "almost certain" that Prakash had not been killed in the airstrike and had continued to act as a recruiter for the group.{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/federal-authorities-almost-certain-australias-most-senior-terrorist-neil-prakash-is-alive-and-still-recruiting-extremists/news-story/a63c915220a41cc6e68e8923d013dcbb|title=Federal authorities almost certain Australia's most senior terrorist Neil Prakash is alive and still recruiting extremists|newspaper=Herald Sun|access-date=27 June 2016}}{{subscription required}} In November 2016, Australian counter-terrorism officials confirmed that Prakash was still alive, and had been arrested after attempting to enter Turkey from Syria.{{cite news|title=Islamic State: Australian fighter Neil Prakash alive, arrested in Middle East, counter-terrorism officials confirm|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-11-25/australian-islamic-state-fighter-neil-prakash-may-be-alive/8058658|access-date=25 November 2016|work=ABC News|date=25 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161125063016/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-11-25/australian-islamic-state-fighter-neil-prakash-may-be-alive/8058658|archive-date=25 November 2016|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} On 16 March 2019, he was convicted in Turkey of membership in a terrorist organisation and sentenced to seven-and-a-half years in prison.{{cite news |url=https://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2019-03-16/neil-prakash-sentenced-to-jail-in-turkey/10907510 |title=Australian Islamic State recruiter Neil Prakash sentenced to jail in Turkey |first=Eric |last=Tlozek |date=16 March 2019 |access-date=14 April 2019 |work=ABC News |publisher=Abc.net.au}}

In early December 2022 Prakash was extradited back to Australia and charged in Melbourne Magistrates' Court with terrorism-related offences. He was due to reappear in court in late February 2023.{{cite news |author1=ABC Staff |title=Alleged terrorist Neil Prakash extradited to Melbourne and charged with six offences |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-12-04/neil-prakash-lands-in-melbourne-after-extradition-process/101732088 |access-date=4 December 2022 |work=ABC News |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=4 December 2022 |language=en-AU}}

{{main|2005 Sydney terrorism plot}}

Khaled Cheikho, Moustafa Cheikho, Mohamed Ali Elomar, Abdul Rakib Hasan and Mohammed Omar Jamal were found guilty of conspiring to commit a terrorist act or acts.{{cite web|url=http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=664371|title=Australian and World News – ninemsn, Nine News|work=news|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081119185255/http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=664371|archive-date=19 November 2008|df=dmy-all}} They were jailed on 15 February 2010 for terms ranging from 23 to 28 years.{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE61E0W020100215|title=Five Australians jailed for jihad plot|access-date=15 February 2010|date=15 February 2010|work=Reuters|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100216171728/http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE61E0W020100215|archive-date=16 February 2010|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}

{{main|Abdul Nacer Benbrika}}

In September 2008, of an original nine defendants, five men including the Muslim cleric, Abdul Nacer Benbrika were convicted of planning a terrorist attack. During the trial, the jury heard evidence of plans to bomb the 2005 AFL Grand Final, 2006 Australian Grand Prix and the Crown Casino, as well as a plot to assassinate then Prime Minister John Howard.{{cite web|url=http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24669683-661,00.html|title=Five men convicted of terror-related offences won't renounce jihad |work= Herald Sun|date=18 November 2008|access-date=28 January 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090106015944/http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24669683-661,00.html|archive-date=6 January 2009}}{{cite news |last=Caldwell |first=Alison |title=Tape alleges Howard assassination plot |url=http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2008/s2183241.htm |access-date=26 November 2015 |work=The World Today (ABC Local Radio) |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=7 March 2008 |format=transcript |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151217184531/http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2008/s2183241.htm |archive-date=17 December 2015 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}

Despite Benbrika having completed his sentence on 5 November 2020, the Department of Home Affairs applied to the Victorian Supreme Court to keep him detained, and he was, under an interim order from the court.{{cite news |author1=Staff writer/s |title=Terrorist will stay in Australian jail despite sentence ending |url=https://www.9news.com.au/national/terrorist-abdul-nacer-benbrika-ordered-to-remain-in-jail-despite-sentence-ending/a7ff4bda-e0e2-41c2-b0e0-58782b9a8480 |access-date=24 December 2020 |work=9news.com.au |publisher=Nine Digital Pty Ltd |date=24 December 2020}}

On 19 December 2023 Justice Elizabeth Hollingworth, in the Victorian Supreme Court, granted Benbrika release. He is to be kept on an extended supervision order for a year.{{cite news |last1=Silva |first1=Kristian |title=Convicted terrorist Abdul Nacer Benbrika to walk free after nearly two decades behind bars |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-12-19/convicted-terrorist-abdul-nacer-benbrika-free-jail/103245256 |access-date=19 December 2023 |work=ABC News |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=18 December 2023 |language=en-AU}}

{{main|Holsworthy Barracks terror plot}}

On 4 August 2009, four men in Melbourne were charged over the Holsworthy Barracks terror plot, an alleged plan to storm the Holsworthy Barracks in Sydney with automatic weapons; and shoot army personnel or others until they were killed or captured.Cameron Stewart and Milanda Rout, 5 August 2009. [http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25884512-601,00.html "Somali extremists on a 'fatwa order' from God"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090807105257/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25884512-601,00.html |date=7 August 2009 }}. The Australian, Retrieved on 5 August 2009Melissa Iaria, 4 August 2009. [http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,25883085-29277,00.html "Terror suspects 'sought holy approval'"] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20121215203033/http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,25883085-29277,00.html |date=15 December 2012 }}. news.com.au, Retrieved on 4 August 2009 The men are allegedly connected with the Somali-based terrorist group al-Shabaab.Janet Fife-Yeomans and Carly Crawford, 5 August 2009. [http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,25879579-421,00.html "Terror suspects 'sought holy approval'"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090807115117/http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,25879579-421,00.html |date=7 August 2009 }}. news.com.au. Retrieved on 5 August 2009 Prime Minister Kevin Rudd subsequently announced a federal government review of security at all military bases.5 August 2009. [http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,25885273-29277,00.html "Govt orders review of security at military bases"]. news.com.au, Retrieved on 5 August 2009

In December 2011 Justice Betty King sentenced three of the men to 18 years in prison with minimum terms of thirteen-and-half years. She said that they were all "unrepentant radical Muslims and would remain a threat to the public while they held extremist views".{{cite news |last=Ross|first=Norrie |title=Judge berates terrorists who were given refuge in Australia |url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-news/three-would-be-terrorists-jailed-for-plotting-sydney-army-base-attack/story-fn7x8me2-1226223584865|access-date=10 March 2015 |work=Herald Sun |date=17 December 2011}}

Sevdet Besim was arrested on 18 April 2015. Aged 18 and born to parents of Albanian origin, he planned to drive a car into and kill, then behead, a law enforcement officer on Anzac Day in Melbourne. He was subsequently sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment on 5 September 2016.{{Cite AustLII|VSC|537|2016|litigants=The Queen v Besim |courtname=auto}}.

{{main|2017 Australian aeroplane bomb plot}}

In July 2017, Australian police thwarted a plot to bomb an airliner. In Sydney, four men were arrested by the Australian Federal Police and their properties were searched.{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/police-disrupt-plot-in-australia-to-bring-down-an-airplane/2017/07/29/d1af42ca-74be-11e7-8c17-533c52b2f014_story.html|title=Police disrupt plot in Australia to 'bring down an airplane'|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=2017-07-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170730123227/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/police-disrupt-plot-in-australia-to-bring-down-an-airplane/2017/07/29/d1af42ca-74be-11e7-8c17-533c52b2f014_story.html|archive-date=30 July 2017|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-australia-security-raids-idUSKBN1AE089|title=Australia thwarts 'Islamic-inspired' plane attack plot|date=29 July 2017|work=Reuters|access-date=2017-07-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170911070737/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-australia-security-raids-idUSKBN1AE089|archive-date=11 September 2017|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}

On 17 December 2019 Khaled Khayat was sentenced to 40 years in prison (with a non-parole period of 30 years). Mahmoud Khayat was sentenced to 36 years (with a non-parole period of 27 years).{{cite news |last=McKinnell |first=Jamie |title=Khayat brothers sentenced to 40 years, 36 years in prison over meat grinder bomb plot |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-12-17/khayat-brothers-jailed-over-failed-etihad-plane-bomb-plot/11805518 |work=ABC News |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=17 December 2019 |language=en-AU}}

Amer Khayat was the third brother who was to, unknowingly, carry the bomb onto the plane. Amer was arrested overseas and spent two-and-a-half years in a Beirut prison. In September 2019 he was cleared of any involvement by a military tribunal.{{cite news |last=Harvey |first=Adam |title=Australian tricked by brothers into joining bomb plot released from Lebanese prison |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-09-20/australian-amer-khayat-cleared-of-bomb-is-plot-prison-release/11531210 |access-date=24 January 2020 |work=ABC News |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=20 September 2019 |language=en-AU}}

On 31 October 2017, Tamim Khaja plead guilty to planning a terrorist attack on targets in Sydney that included the Timor Army Barracks and Sydney West Trial Courts. He was arrested in May 2016 as he was attempting to obtain firearms, explosives and an Islamic State flag.{{Cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-10-30/sydney-man-pleads-guilty-for-planning-mass-murder-terror-attack/9099894|title=Tamim Khaja pleads guilty to planning Sydney 'mass murder' terror attack|last=Kidd|first=Jessica|date=October 31, 2017|work=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|access-date=November 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171102021013/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-10-30/sydney-man-pleads-guilty-for-planning-mass-murder-terror-attack/9099894|archive-date=2 November 2017|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}

On 3 November 2017 Sulayman Khalid, also known as "Abu Bakr", was sentenced to up to 22  years and 6  months' jail in the NSW Supreme Court by Justice Geoffrey Bellew. He was the leader among five of six conspirators who were sentenced in connection to a plot between 7 November and 18  December 2014 that targeted government sites, including the Lithgow Correctional Centre and an Australian Federal Police building in Sydney. Jibryl Almaouie, Mohamed Almaouie, Farhad Said and an unnamed teenager were all sentenced to jail terms for their part. Ibrahim Ghazzawy, the sixth conspirator was earlier in 2017 sentenced to a minimum of 6 years and 4 months. Khalid appeared on the SBS program Insight in 2014, where he said that Islamic State only wanted to bring "justice, peace and humanitarian aid to the people". He later stormed off the set.{{cite news |last=Hoerr |first=Karl |title=Five jailed for terror plot targeting government sites including AFP building and Lithgow jail |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-11-03/terror-plotters-sentenced-for-planning-attacks-in-nsw/9114866 |access-date=3 November 2017 |work=ABC News |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=3 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171104121156/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-11-03/terror-plotters-sentenced-for-planning-attacks-in-nsw/9114866 |archive-date=4 November 2017 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}{{cite news |last=Hawke |first=Sarah |title=Three plead guilty to preparing Sydney terrorist attacks |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-07-31/three-plead-guilty-to-preparing-terrorist-acts-in-sydney/8760858 |access-date=3 November 2017 |work=ABC News |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=31 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171104020637/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-07-31/three-plead-guilty-to-preparing-terrorist-acts-in-sydney/8760858 |archive-date=4 November 2017 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }} Khalid was arrested on 23 December 2014 by Joint Counter Terrorism Team members as part of Operation Appleby.{{cite news |title=Seized documents 'name Sydney terror targets', pair charged |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-12-24/two-men-arrested-by-counter-terrorism-team-sydney/5986816 |access-date=3 November 2017 |work=ABC News |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=24 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107124739/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-12-24/two-men-arrested-by-counter-terrorism-team-sydney/5986816 |archive-date=7 November 2017 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}

{{main|Joshua Ryne Goldberg}}

In 2015, Jewish American internet troll Joshua Goldberg was arrested for planning a bombing in Kansas City while posing as an Australian ISIS supporter. A 17-year-old Melbourne teenager who had been in contact with Goldberg pleaded guilty to preparing a terror attack, after bombs were found in his home.{{cite news|url =https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/sep/12/us-man-tried-to-organise-terror-attack-in-melbourne-say-authorities|title =US man tried to organise terror attack in Melbourne, say authorities|newspaper=The Guardian|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20180204041352/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/sep/12/us-man-tried-to-organise-terror-attack-in-melbourne-say-authorities|archive-date =4 February 2018|url-status =live|df =dmy-all}}{{cite news|last=Padraic|first=Murphy|title=Teenager pleads guilty to planning Mother's Day terrorist attack in Melbourne|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/law-order/teenager-pleads-guilty-to-planning-mothers-day-terrorist-attack-in-melbourne/news-story/2ffaf966f87e4c5c62a98d282bbe4b0f|access-date=14 December 2015|work=Herald Sun|archive-url=https://archive.today/20151220091924/http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/law-order/teenager-pleads-guilty-to-planning-mothers-day-terrorist-attack-in-melbourne/news-story/2ffaf966f87e4c5c62a98d282bbe4b0f|url-status=live|archive-date=2015-12-20}} Goldberg's ISIS persona also attempted to incite mass shootings in Australia.{{cite web|url=http://www.australiantimes.co.uk/australian-isis-supporter-tweets-tips-and-threats-following-garland-texas-shootings/|title=Australian ISIS supporter tweets tips and threats following Garland Texas shootings|work=Australian Times|date=5 May 2015|access-date=4 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170814102919/http://www.australiantimes.co.uk/australian-isis-supporter-tweets-tips-and-threats-following-garland-texas-shootings/|archive-date=14 August 2017|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/national/internet-troll-joshua-goldberg-attempted-to-incite-terror-attacks-in-melbourne/news-story/07986e685672651e62edca37295fad4f|title=Internet troll Joshua Goldberg attempted to incite terror attacks in Melbourne|work=news.com.au|access-date=2018-01-25|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180126185126/http://www.news.com.au/national/internet-troll-joshua-goldberg-attempted-to-incite-terror-attacks-in-melbourne/news-story/07986e685672651e62edca37295fad4f|archive-date=26 January 2018|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}{{cite web|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2015/09/10/us/9-11-memorial-bomb-plot-kansas-city-missouri/|title=Man accused of bomb plot at 9/11 event, FBI says|author1=Ralph Ellis|author2=Greg Botelho|date=September 10, 2015|access-date=September 10, 2015|work=CNN|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180204032435/https://edition.cnn.com/2015/09/10/us/9-11-memorial-bomb-plot-kansas-city-missouri/|archive-date=4 February 2018|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}

In 2016, Phillip Galea, a Victorian man associated with the far-right group Reclaim Australia, was arrested for planning bombings of various "leftist" organisations in Melbourne, including Trades Hall in Carlton, the Melbourne Anarchist Club in Northcote and the Resistance Centre in the Melbourne CBD.{{Cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-11-19/accused-right-wing-terrorist-phillip-galea-says-plot-was-a-joke/11717032|title=Accused far-right terrorist nearly blew up his own home while developing 'fake' terror plot, court hears|last=Percy|first=Karen|date=2019-11-19|website=ABC News|language=en-AU|access-date=2020-02-08}} He was arrested in August 2016, after police raids of his home in November 2015 found cattle prods, mercury, information relating to home-made bombs and a document drafted by Galea called the "Terrorist's Cookbook", intended to be a how-to-guide for Right-wing terrorists.{{Cite news|agency=Australian Associated Press|url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/nov/19/accused-far-right-terrorist-says-how-to-massacre-document-was-satire|title=Accused far-right terrorist says how-to massacre document was 'satire'|date=2019-11-19|work=The Guardian|access-date=2020-02-08}}

Galea was convicted of plotting terrorist attacks and creating a document likely to facilitate a terrorist act in December 2019 and given a 12-year jail sentence.{{Cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-12-05/phillip-galea-jury-verdict-plot-to-blow-up-buildings/11755432|title=Far-right Australian terror conviction 'a canary in the coalmine', union leader warns|last=Percy|first=Karen|date=2019-12-05|website=ABC News|language=en-AU|access-date=2020-02-08}}{{Cite web|agency=Australian Associated Press|date=2020-11-20|title=Far-right terrorist Phillip Galea jailed for at least nine years for Melbourne plot|url=http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/nov/20/far-right-terrorist-phillip-galea-jailed-for-at-least-nine-years-for-melbourne-plot|access-date=2021-10-23|website=The Guardian}} The Court was told that his aim were to eliminate the leaders of the left in Melbourne, blaming them for the "Islamisation" of Australia.{{Cite news|agency=Australian Associated Press|url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/dec/05/far-right-extremist-phillip-galea-found-guilty-of-plotting-terror-attacks-in-melbourne|title=Far-right extremist Phillip Galea found guilty of plotting terror attacks in Melbourne|date=2019-12-05|work=The Guardian|access-date=2020-02-08}}

On 27 November 2017 an Australian man of Somali parentage was arrested for plotting a mass shooting. Twenty-year-old Ali Khalif Shire Ali from Werribee, Victoria was charged the next day in Melbourne Magistrates' Court with: preparing to commit a terrorist attack, and gathering documents to facilitate a terrorist act. Police believed that Ali planned to "shoot and kill as many people as he could" in Federation Square, Melbourne on New Year's Eve.{{cite news |title=Werribee man charged with terrorism offences over alleged Federation Square massacre plot |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-11-28/man-charged-over-alleged-melbourne-new-years-eve-terrorism-plot/9199576 |access-date=29 November 2017 |work=ABC News |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=28 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171129031207/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-11-28/man-charged-over-alleged-melbourne-new-years-eve-terrorism-plot/9199576 |archive-date=29 November 2017 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}

In May 2019 Ali pled guilty to preparing a terrorist attack. On 21 May 2020 he was sentenced to ten years' jail, with a seven-and-a-half-year non-parole period. In December 2020 his sentence was increased to sixteen years, with a non-parole period of twelve years.{{cite news |last=Silva |first=Kristian |title=Federation Square terror plotter Ali Khalif Shire Ali has sentence increased after prosecutors appeal |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-12-18/federation-square-terror-plotter-has-sentence-increased-in-court/12997240 |access-date=18 December 2020 |work=abc.net.au |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=18 December 2020 |language=en-AU}} Ali's brother was 30-year-old Hassan Khalif Shire Ali, who committed a stabbing attack in Melbourne in November 2018. Hassan killed one person, and was then shot and killed by police.

In August 2024 a 16-year-old was arrest by Australian Federal and Queensland Police for plotting to assassinate of leader of the opposition Peter Dutton with a drone and homemade explosives at his private residence, north of Brisbane.{{Cite news |last=McKenna |first=Michael |last2=Lynch |first2=Lydia |date=11 April 2025 |title=Dutton alleged target of schoolboy terror bomb plot |url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/brisbane-private-school-student-16-to-face-trial-for-allegedly-planning-terror-bomb-attack/news-story/b05ffc4733e5ed6659bc5c6d9eaf86e7 |access-date=11 April 2025 |work=The Australian |page=1 |language=En |edition=Second |issue=19171 |issn=1038-8761}}{{Cite news |last=Press |first=Australian Associated |date=2025-04-11 |title=‘Brutal business’: Brisbane boy charged over alleged terror plot targeting Peter Dutton |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/apr/11/peter-dutton-brisbane-boy-charged-alleged-terror-plot-ntwfb |access-date=2025-04-11 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} The attack was allegedly planned over two months, from May 21 to July 15 2024, in which the 16-year-old researched different bomb-making instructions, purchased explosives ingredients, tested thermal chemical reactions, and tested multiple homemade explosives.{{Cite news |last=Tchetchenian |first=Charlie |date=11 April 2025 |title=‘I’ve never felt unsafe one day in this job’: Peter Dutton addresses alleged terror plot, vowing he is not intimidated |url=https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/politics/ive-never-felt-unsafe-one-day-in-this-job-peter-dutton-addresses-alleged-terror-plot-vowing-he-is-not-intimated/news-story/0712620136bc50a3fc19bd5e4214e758 |access-date=11 April 2025 |work=Sky News Australia}}

{{see also|Islam in Australia#Radical Islam}}

The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), proscribed by the government as a terrorist organisation,{{cite web |url=http://www.nationalsecurity.gov.au/Listedterroristorganisations/Pages/IslamicState.aspx |title=Australian National Security – Islamic State |work=Australian Government |access-date=26 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808170809/http://www.nationalsecurity.gov.au/Listedterroristorganisations/Pages/IslamicState.aspx |archive-date=8 August 2014 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }} has targeted Australian Muslims for recruitment.{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-06-20/isis-fighter-identfied-as-an-australian-in-recruitment-video/5540116 |title=Australian militants Abu Yahya ash Shami and Abu Nour al-Iraqi identified in ISIS recruitment video |author=Lloyd, Peter |date=21 June 2014 |work=ABC News |access-date=26 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140721072213/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-06-20/isis-fighter-identfied-as-an-australian-in-recruitment-video/5540116 |archive-date=21 July 2014 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }} Making use of social media, recruiters target those vulnerable to radicalisation,{{cite news |url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/law-order/islamic-state-sets-sights-on-exanding-to-canberra/story-fni0fee2-1227349685613 |title=Islamic State sets sights on exanding to Canberra |last=Crawford |first=Carly |date=10 May 2015 |work=Herald Sun |access-date=11 May 2015}} and encourage local jihad activities.{{cite news |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/keyboard-warrior-anzac-terror-plot-accused-sevdet-besim-allegedly-guided-online-20150509-ggxlaz.html |title=Keyboard warrior: Anzac terror plot accused Sevdet Besim allegedly guided online|author-link1=Michael Bachelard |first1=Michael |last1=Bachelard |first2=David |last2=Wroe |date=9 May 2015 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |access-date=13 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150513010144/http://www.smh.com.au/national/keyboard-warrior-anzac-terror-plot-accused-sevdet-besim-allegedly-guided-online-20150509-ggxlaz.html |archive-date=13 May 2015 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}{{cite news |url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/features/one-missing-piece-in-the-neil-prakash-islamic-state-puzzle/story-e6frg6z6-1227347465597 |title=One missing piece in the Neil Prakash Islamic State puzzle |author=Maley, Paul |date=10 May 2015 |work=The Australian |access-date=13 May 2015}} Some of those targeted have been minors, including a 17-year-old who was arrested in Melbourne in May 2015 for plotting to detonate home-made bombs,{{cite news |url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/law-order/teenager-accused-of-terrorist-bomb-plot-spread-radical-views-of-british-hate-preacher/story-fni0fee2-1227350985154 |title=Teenager accused of terrorist bomb plot spread radical views of British hate preacher |author1=Dowling, James |author2=Flower, Wayne |author3=Schelle, Caroline |date=11 May 2015 |work=Herald Sun |access-date=12 May 2015}} and sentenced to 7 years' jail.{{cite news |last1=McKenzie |first1=Nick |last2=Baker |first2=Richard |last3=Lee |first3=Jane |title=Teen jailed for seven years over Mother's Day terror plot |url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/victeen-jailed-over-melbourne-terror-plot-20161207-gt5y8s.html |access-date=23 May 2020 |work=The Age |date=7 December 2016 |language=en-AU}} In June 2014, the government claimed that roughly 150 Australians had been recruited to fight in the conflicts in Syria and Iraq."Australia Warns of Islamic Militant Migration: Australia Increases Counterterrorism Strategies to Combat Threat." The Wall Street Journal. June 24, 2014.{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-06-19/150-australians-fighting-with-extremists-in-iraq-and-syria/5535018|archive-date=19 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160119174212/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-06-19/150-australians-fighting-with-extremists-in-iraq-and-syria/5535018 |title=Number of Australians fighting with militants in Iraq and Syria 'extraordinary', Julie Bishop says |author-link=Latika Bourke|last=Bourke|first=Latika |date=19 June 2014 |work=ABC News (Australia) |access-date=26 July 2014}} A list released in April 2015 showed that most were young males who have come from a range of occupations, including students.{{cite news |url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/revealed-full-list-of-aussie-jihadis-fighting-with-isis-in-syria-and-iraq/story-fni0cx12-1227306163660 |title=Revealed: Full list of Aussie jihadis fighting with ISIS in Syria and Iraq |last=Chambers |first=Geoff |date=16 April 2015 |work=Daily Telegraph |access-date=27 April 2015}} It was also reported at the time that 249 suspected jihadists had been prevented from leaving Australia.{{cite news |url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/queensland-terror-suspects-removed-from-flights/story-fnii5v70-1227311096107 |title=Queensland terror suspects removed from flights |first1=Neil |last1=Doorley |first2=Tom|last2=Snowdon |date=20 April 2015 |work=Herald Sun |access-date=20 April 2015}} The Australian Border Force Counter-Terrorism Unit, tasked with stopping jihadists from leaving the country,{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-31900876 |title=Australian counter-terror police 'stopping 400 per day' – BBC News |work=BBC News |date=16 March 2015 |access-date=30 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150327093500/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-31900876 |archive-date=27 March 2015 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }} had cancelled more than 100 passports by the end of March 2015.{{cite web |url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/the-rapid-evolution-of-the-isis-death-cult/story-e6frf7jo-1227282588525 |title=The rapid evolution of the ISIS death cult|publisher=Heraldsun.com.au |access-date=30 March 2015}} Several jihadists have expressed the desire to return to Australia,{{cite news |url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/law-order/australian-laws-stopping-melbourne-woman-leaving-is-father-says/story-fni0fee2-1227360837677 |title=Australian laws stopping Melbourne woman leaving IS, father says |author=Dowling, James |date=20 May 2015 |work=Herald Sun |access-date=20 May 2015}} but Prime Minister Tony Abbott has said that any who do would be prosecuted on their arrival.{{cite news |url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/in-depth/terror/returning-islamic-state-foreign-fighters-face-jail-abbott-says/story-fnpdbcmu-1227360196499 |title=Returning Islamic State foreign fighters face jail, Abbott says |author=Owens, Jarad |date=19 May 2015 |work=The Australian |access-date=20 May 2015}}{{cite news |url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/in-depth/terror/cold-comfort-and-jail-for-returning-jihadists/story-fnpdbcmu-1227360829593 |title=Cold comfort and jail for returning jihadists |author=Maley, Paul |date=20 May 2015 |work=The Australian |access-date=20 May 2015}}

In May 2016, in what became known as the 'Tinnie terror plot', five men were arrested as they towed a boat in the Northern Territory. A sixth was arrested in Melbourne. The group was charged with "making preparations for incursions into foreign countries to engage in hostile activities." They had intended to go by sea to help Islamic insurgents in the Philippines overthrow their government. All six men were jailed. As of April 2020 two of them had been released.{{cite news |author1=Staff |title=Government slammed as 'tinnie terrorist' comes home to WA |url=https://www.9news.com.au/national/tinnie-terrorist-shayden-thorne-released-from-victorian-jail/ac9317f9-52f3-49a6-be17-5967435974e4 |access-date=23 May 2020 |work=9news.com.au |date=7 March 2020}} The leader, Musa Cerantonio was sentenced to seven years.{{cite news |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-05-03/robert-cerantoni-sentenced-planned-foreign-incursion-philippines/11076778 |title=Robert Cerantonio, extremist ringleader who tried to sail to the Philippines to overthrow government, jailed for 7 years |access-date=22 May 2020 |date=3 May 2019 |website=abc.net.au}}

On 1 September 2016 Hamdi Alquidsi was sentenced to 8 years' jail (6 years minimum) by Justice Christine Adamson. In July he was found guilty of seven counts of "supporting engagement in armed hostilities" in Syria. Two men who he helped travel to Syria were killed there, two others have returned to Australia. The fate of another two is unknown, while the last never left. Alqudsi will be eligible for release in July 2022.{{cite news |last1=Hunjan |first1=Raveen |last2=Daniel |first2=Sue |title=Hamdi Alqudsi jailed for six years for aiding men to fight with IS |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-09-01/hamdi-alqudsi-sentenced-six-years-aiding-islamic-state-fighters/7804214 |access-date=1 September 2016 |work=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=1 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160902164225/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-09-01/hamdi-alqudsi-sentenced-six-years-aiding-islamic-state-fighters/7804214 |archive-date=2 September 2016 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}

{{Anchor|September 2014 AFP raids: Sydney and Brisbane}}

{{anchor|September 2014 AFP raids}}

{{Main|2014 Australian terror raids}}

In the early hours of 18 September 2014, large teams of Australian Federal Police (AFP) and other security agencies conducted search operations in both Sydney and Brisbane. Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has alluded to an alleged plot aimed at conducting a random act of terrorism as the reason for the police action. This action is described as the largest in Australian history to date. One man arrested, from Guildford, allegedly conspired to commit a "horrifying" terrorist act with a man believed to be the most senior Australian Islamic State leader.{{cite news |last1=Phan |first1=Sophia |last2=McNeilage |first2=Amy |last3=Levy |first3=Megan |title=Anti-terrorism raids across Sydney and Brisbane |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/live-antiterrorism-raids-across-sydney-and-brisbane-20140918-3fzkq.html |access-date=12 February 2015 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=18 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141026133130/http://www.smh.com.au/national/live-antiterrorism-raids-across-sydney-and-brisbane-20140918-3fzkq.html |archive-date=26 October 2014 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}

On 30 September 2014 there were more raids in Melbourne. The AFP executed seven search warrants in Broadmeadows, Flemington, Kealba, Meadow Heights and Seabrook. Over 100 officers from Federal and State police forces took part.

A man from Seabrook will be charged with "intentionally making funds available to a terrorist organisation knowing that organisation was a terrorist organisation", AFP Assistant Commissioner Gaughan said. The man is alleged to have provided money to a United States citizen who was fighting in Syria.{{cite news |title=Anti-terror raids in Melbourne: Man charged with sending funds to Islamic State and Al Qaeda affiliate |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-09-30/counter-terrorism-raids-afp-and-victoria-police-melbourne/5778116 |access-date=30 September 2014 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) |date=30 September 2014 |quote=... arrested for allegedly providing $12,000 to a US citizen fighting in Syria. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140930143925/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-09-30/counter-terrorism-raids-afp-and-victoria-police-melbourne/5778116 |archive-date=30 September 2014 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }} Updated 1 October 2014

On 10 February 2015 two men were arrested in Fairfield, New South Wales, and charged with "Acts done in preparation, for, or planning terrorists acts". On the morning of 10 February police were informed the two were planning a terrorist attack. They were quickly placed under surveillance and tracked. When they purchased a hunting knife from a store about 3:00 pm, NSW Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT) forces decided to intervene and soon after 4:00 pm the men were arrested.

The men were a 24-year-old student from Iraq, and a 25-year-old nurse who moved from Kuwait in 2012. The two were unknown to police until the tip-off.{{cite news |last=Rubinsztein-Dunlop |first=Sean |title=Authorities warn of 'new normal' after thwarting terrorist plot |url=http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2015/s4178317.htm?site=sydney |access-date=12 February 2015 |work=7.30 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=11 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150221033751/http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2015/s4178317.htm?site=sydney |archive-date=21 February 2015 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }} The men's residence, a vehicle and places of work were searched. They were found with a machete, a hunting knife, a homemade Islamic State flag and "a video which depicted a man talking about carrying out an attack", according to NSW Police Deputy Commissioner (Specialist Operations) Catherine Burn. One of the men arrested appeared in the video.{{cite news |last=Mark |first=David |title=Police say they've foiled murderous terror attack |url=http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2015/s4178109.htm?site=sydney |access-date=12 February 2015 |work=ABC Radio-PM |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=11 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150221033756/http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2015/s4178109.htm?site=sydney |archive-date=21 February 2015 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}

Burn also said: "We will allege that both of these men were preparing to do this act yesterday" and "We believe that the men were potentially going to harm somebody, maybe even kill somebody ...".

The JCTT investigation has been given the code name Operation Castrum.{{cite press release |author1=NSW Police Media Unit |title=Two arrested at Fairfield on Terrorism offences |url=http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/news/media_release_archive?sq_content_src=%2BdXJsPWh0dHBzJTNBJTJGJTJGZWJpenByZC5wb2xpY2UubnN3Lmdvdi5hdSUyRm1lZGlhJTJGNDQzMzAuaHRtbCZhbGw9MQ%3D%3D |website=police.nsw.gov.au |access-date=12 February 2015 |date=12 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150313032929/http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/news/media_release_archive?sq_content_src=%2BdXJsPWh0dHBzJTNBJTJGJTJGZWJpenByZC5wb2xpY2UubnN3Lmdvdi5hdSUyRm1lZGlhJTJGNDQzMzAuaHRtbCZhbGw9MQ%3D%3D |archive-date=13 March 2015 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}

On 8 May 2015 a 17-year-old was arrested in Greenvale, Melbourne for plotting to detonate home-made bombs. He was charged with:

{{blockquote|engaging in an act in preparation for, or planning, a terrorist act contrary to section 101.6 of the Criminal Code(Cth) and possess things connected with a terrorist act, contrary to section 101.4 of the Criminal Code (Cth){{cite press release |title=Media Release: Joint Operation Amberd |url=http://www.afp.gov.au/media-centre/news/afp/2015/may/media_release_joint_operation_amberd |website=afp.gov.au |publisher=Australian Federal Police |access-date=3 October 2015 |date=9 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150616121906/http://www.afp.gov.au/media-centre/news/afp/2015/may/media_release_joint_operation_amberd |archive-date=16 June 2015 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}}}

Three alleged improvised explosive devices were found and rendered safe in a park by controlled detonation. The teenager appeared in court on 11 May and was remanded to reappear on May 26. 'Operation Amberd' was formed, and investigations made for 9 days, after a call to a security hotline. AFP and Victorian police of the Melbourne Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT) carried out the raid. AFP Deputy Commissioner Mike Phelan said: "We can absolutely guarantee we have stopped something."{{cite news |title='Closest call yet': Police say tip-off sparked Melbourne raids which found alleged improvised explosive devices |url=http://www.9news.com.au/national/2015/05/08/15/11/police-conduct-raids-in-melbourne-s-northern-suburbs |access-date=3 October 2015 |work=9news.com.au |publisher=NineMSN |date=9 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151004025105/http://www.9news.com.au/national/2015/05/08/15/11/police-conduct-raids-in-melbourne-s-northern-suburbs |archive-date=4 October 2015 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}

On 23 December 2016 seven people were arrested in Melbourne for plotting an attack on Christmas Day. Properties were raided at Campbellfield, Dallas, Victoria, Flemington, Gladstone Park and Meadow Heights.{{cite news |title=Seven held over alleged Christmas Day 'act of evil' terror plot |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-12-23/police-foil-alleged-christmas-day-'terrorist-plot'-in-melbourne/8143762 |work=ABC News |access-date=23 December 2016 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=23 December 2016 |language=en-AU |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161223044816/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-12-23/police-foil-alleged-christmas-day-'terrorist-plot'-in-melbourne/8143762 |archive-date=23 December 2016 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }} The would-be terrorists planned to attack Federation Square, Flinders Street railway station and St. Paul's Cathedral, three landmarks clustered in the centre of Melbourne. An explosive device and other weapons were to be used.{{cite news |last=Livingston |first=Angus |title=Melbourne Xmas bomb attack foiled: police |url=https://au.news.yahoo.com/vic/a/33641278/police-raids-underway-in-melbourne-suburb/#page1 |access-date=23 December 2016 |agency=AAP |work=Yahoo! News |date=23 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161223134314/https://au.news.yahoo.com/vic/a/33641278/police-raids-underway-in-melbourne-suburb/#page1 |archive-date=23 December 2016 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }} Abdullah Chaarani, Ahmed Mohamed and Hamza Abbas were found guilty 2 November 2018 in the High Court of Australia of plotting an attack in the name of the Islamic State.{{Cite web|url=https://www.news.com.au/national/victoria/courts-law/melbourne-terror-plotters-caught-buying-bombmaking-equipment-at-bunnings-warehouse/news-story/49bcfb93279deb28431af85a4c1bd524|title='Distressing': Footage judge won't release|date=2019-10-16|website=news.com.au|access-date=2019-10-25}} The trio smiled, laughed and made thumbs up as the verdict was announced. The police brought the weapons the trio had purchased to kill people who did not adhere to their radical version of Sunni Islam.{{Cite web|url=https://www.news.com.au/national/victoria/courts-law/trio-guilty-of-melbourne-christmas-terror-plot/news-story/2ca39caa3ca1ef13b363c07668e91674|title=Trio guilty of Melbourne terror plot|date=2018-11-14|website=news.com.au|access-date=2019-10-25}}

In late February 2017 a man was arrested at Young, New South Wales after an 18-month investigation. The man is a 42-year-old electrician and Australian citizen. He is alleged "... to have been researching how to develop laser missile detection equipment for IS and helping the extremists develop their own destructive missile arsenal". He appeared the same day at Young Local Court charged with two foreign incursion offences, and a count of "failing to comply with an order to assist access to data".{{cite news |last1=Hayne |first1=Jordan and |last2=Doran |first2=Matthew (political reporter) |title=Man arrested at Young, NSW for allegedly researching missiles for Islamic State |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-02-28/young-arrest-alleged-terrorism-offences-canberra/8311270 |access-date=2 March 2017 |work=ABC News |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=28 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170301090452/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-02-28/young-arrest-alleged-terrorism-offences-canberra/8311270 |archive-date=1 March 2017 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}

On 2 July 2019 the JCTT carried out raids in Western Sydney, including in Canada Bay, Chester Hill, Greenacre, Green Valley, Ingleburn and Toongabbie. Three men aged, 20, 23 and 30-year were arrested.{{cite news |title=Police arrest three in Sydney counterterrorism raids, accuse one of planning attack |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-07-02/nsw-police-counter-terrorism-operation-in-western-sydney/11271066 |access-date=16 October 2021 |work=ABC News |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=2 July 2019 |language=en-AU}}

One of them, Radwin Dakkak, now 25, was jailed for 18 months in December 2020 for "associating with a member of a terrorist organisation", that person being another of those arrested, Isaac El Matari, a member of Islamic State (IS). Dakkak was the first Australian to be prosecuted for this offence. Dakkak was released in January 2021 as he had already served most of his time in custody, waiting for court proceedings to conclude. Weeks later he was rearrested for allegedly breaching a control order.{{cite news |last=Parkes-Hupton |first=Heath |title=IS supporter Radwan Dakkak hit with more charges for alleged control order breaches |url=https://www.news.com.au/national/courts-law/is-supporter-radwan-dakkak-hit-with-more-charges-for-alleged-control-order-breaches/news-story/dc81b532cb97cf12eed86b4bff7924b5 |access-date=16 October 2021 |work=News.com.au |agency=NCA Newswire |publisher=Nationwide News Pty Ltd |date=18 March 2021}}

In October 2021 IS member Isaac El Matari now aged 22, was jailed for preparing a terrorist attack. He received a maximum term of 7 years and 4 months, with a five-and-a-half-year non-parole period. El Matari previously served 9 months in jail in Lebanon for attempting to join IS, after which he returned to Australia in June 2018. He was under surveillance into 2019 and spoke with associates about establishing an IS insurgency in Australia.{{cite news |last=McKinnell |first=Jamie |title=Isaac El Matari jailed for seven years for preparing terrorist attack in Australia |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-10-11/isaac-el-matari-jailed-preparing-terrorist-attack/100530130 |access-date=16 October 2021 |work=ABC News |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=11 October 2021 |language=en-AU}}

{{Main|Australian anti-terrorism legislation, 2004|Australian Anti-Terrorism Act 2005}}

Prior to the 1960s, there had not been any act in Australia that could accurately be deemed "terrorism" in the modern political and strategic sense of the word. Politically motivated violent incidents were rare, usually isolated, and for the most part driven by issues arising from political legislation, greed, or individuals being singled out, such as the attempted assassination of Australian Labor Party Leader Arthur Calwell in 1965 over his Vietnam War stance. Likewise the 1968 attack on the US Consulate in Melbourne was also regarded to be an isolated incident protesting the US involvement in Vietnam. The two exceptions to this state of affairs would be the assassination attempt on the Duke of Edinburgh in 1868 by an Irish Nationalist named O'Farrell, who was later executed for his crime, and an attack in Broken Hill in 1915 by Afghan supporters of the Sultan of Turkey.

Although it had known sporadic acts through its history, and examples of modern terrorism for almost a decade, Australia did not introduce terrorism specific laws into Parliament until the late 1970s. In 1977, after a three-year inquiry into Australia's intelligence services, Justice Robert Hope delivered his Royal Commission on Intelligence and Security (RCIS). The RCIS recommended amongst other things that the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) areas of investigation be widened to include terrorism. A further Protective Security Review by Justice Hope in 1978 following the Sydney Hilton bombing designated ASIO as the government agency responsible for producing national threat assessments in the field of terrorism and politically motivated violence.

Since then, successive governments have reviewed and altered the shape of both legislation and the agencies that enforce it to cope with the changing face, threat and scope of terrorism. It was not until after the attacks of 11 September 2001, however, that Australian policy began to change to reflect a growing threat against Australia and Australians specifically. Until then the view held from the 1960s had been that terrorist actions in Australia were considered as a problem imported from conflicts overseas and concerned with foreign targets on Australian soil.

In 2004, the Howard government introduced into Parliament three anti-terrorism bills, collectively called the Australian anti-terrorism legislation, 2004, and in 2005 the Australian Anti-Terrorism Act 2005 was passed.

Before 2006, the last legislation to be brought into effect was the Anti-Terrorism Act (No. 2) 2005.{{cite web|author=Commonwealth of Australia |title=Anti-Terrorism Act (no. 2) 2005, No. 144, 2005 |date=16 February 2005 |url=http://www.comlaw.gov.au/ComLaw/Legislation/Act1.nsf/0/4ED7D914ED94BAC9CA2572960010BEF8/$file/1442005.pdf |access-date=12 April 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090106015417/http://www.comlaw.gov.au/ComLaw/Legislation/Act1.nsf/0/4ED7D914ED94BAC9CA2572960010BEF8/$file/1442005.pdf |archive-date=6 January 2009 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}

The Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006 (Cth) came into law on 12 December 2006,{{cite web|title=Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Bill 2006|url=http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:legislation/billhome/R2654|website=parlinfo.aph.gov.au|publisher=Commonwealth of Australia|access-date=21 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160119174213/http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:legislation/billhome/R2654|archive-date=19 January 2016|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} and extends the regulatory regime imposed by the Financial Transaction Reports Act 1988.

New anti-terror laws were introduced in three stages in 2014:

• In July 2014, the National Security Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2014 was passed by Parliament on 25 September 2014.
• In September 2014 the Counter-Terrorism Legislation Amendment (Foreign Fighters) Bill was introduced by Attorney-General George Brandis, passed on 29 October 2014, and assented to on 3 November 2014. As part of this Bill the Crimes (Foreign Incursions and Recruitment) Act 1978 was repealed.{{cite web |title=Counter-Terrorism Legislation Amendment (Foreign Fighters) Bill 2014 |url=http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_LEGislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=s976 |publisher=Commonwealth of Australia |access-date=21 June 2015 |date=2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150621164433/http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_LEGislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=s976 |archive-date=21 June 2015 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}{{cite web |title=Counter-Terrorism Legislation Amendment (Foreign Fighters) Act 2014 |url=https://www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/C2014A00116 |website=comlaw.gov.au |publisher=Commonwealth of Australia |access-date=21 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150621164601/https://www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/C2014A00116 |archive-date=21 June 2015 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}
• In October 2014 the Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Amendment (Data Retention) Bill 2014 was introduced to amend the Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act 1979, and then referred to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security.{{cite news |last=Griffiths |first=Emma |title=Explainer: What do the new anti-terrorism laws involve and how will they will be rolled out |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-09-22/new-anti-terrorism-laws-explained/5761516 |access-date=21 June 2015 |work=ABC News (Australia) |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=28 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150706223935/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-09-22/new-anti-terrorism-laws-explained/5761516 |archive-date=6 July 2015 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }} The Senate passed the bill as the Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Amendment (Data Retention) Act 2015 on 26 March 2015.{{cite web |last=Philipson |first=Graeme |title=Data retention now the law of the land |url=http://www.itwire.com/government-tech-news/technology-regulation/67470-data-retention-now-the-law-of-the-land |work=ITwire |access-date=21 June 2015 |date=27 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150621222227/http://www.itwire.com/government-tech-news/technology-regulation/67470-data-retention-now-the-law-of-the-land |archive-date=21 June 2015 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}{{cite news|last=Griffiths|first=Emma Updated|title=Data retention laws pass Federal Parliament as Coalition and Labor vote together|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-03-26/data-retention-laws-pass-federal-parliament/6351278|access-date=21 June 2015|work=ABC News (Australia)|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=26 Mar 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150621164938/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-03-26/data-retention-laws-pass-federal-parliament/6351278|archive-date=21 June 2015|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} Assent was received on 13 April 2015.{{cite web |title=Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Amendment (Data Retention) Bill 2015 |url=https://www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/C2015A00039 |website=comlaw.gov.au |date=13 April 2015 |publisher=Commonwealth of Australia |access-date=21 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150621164548/https://www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/C2015A00039 |archive-date=21 June 2015 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}

In the wake of the 2 October 2015 shooting death of a civilian police employee, the New South Wales government requested legal changes to allow control orders on people aged 14 and over. Attorney-General George Brandis agreed to the changes. The NSW Council for Civil Liberties criticised the proposal. The councils president Stephen Blanks said: "The proposed laws are undoubtedly going to be in breach of human rights standards,"{{cite news |last=Anderson |first=Stephanie |title=Tougher terrorism laws to protect against 'incitement of genocide', Malcolm Turnbull says |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-10-13/terrorism-laws-to-protect-against-incitement-of-genocide/6848582 |access-date=17 October 2015 |agency=Australian Broadcasting Commission |date=13 October 2015 |quote=Law changes requested by the New South Wales Government and agreed to by Attorney-General George Brandis could also see young people closely monitored under potential laws aiming to lower the age of control orders from 16 to 14. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016050707/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-10-13/terrorism-laws-to-protect-against-incitement-of-genocide/6848582 |archive-date=16 October 2015 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}

In November 2015 it was stated{{who|date=July 2019}} that New South Wales police were being retrained to "...shoot terrorists on sight rather than try to contain them and negotiate,...".{{cite news |last1=Brown |first1=Michelle |last2=Kennedy |first2=Jean |title=NSW police trained to shoot terrorists on sight, rather than negotiate |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-11-17/nsw-police-trained-to-shoot-extremists-on-sight/6946658 |access-date=18 November 2015 |work=ABC News |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=17 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117230520/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-11-17/nsw-police-trained-to-shoot-extremists-on-sight/6946658 |archive-date=17 November 2015 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}

{{Main| Designated terrorist organisations in Australia}}

Since November 2016, there have been 20 organisations designated as terrorist organisations. Organisations can be so designated by a court or a government department. All but one of those organisations are Islamist. Identification of an organisation as a terrorist organisation may result from a prosecution for a terrorist offence, or from a listing determined by the Attorney-General of Australia.{{cite web |url=http://www.nationalsecurity.gov.au/WhatAustraliaisdoing/Pages/default.aspx|title=Australian National Security – What Australia is doing|access-date=21 December 2014 |publisher=Australian Government|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141122211502/http://www.nationalsecurity.gov.au/WhatAustraliaisdoing/Pages/default.aspx|archive-date=22 November 2014|url-status=live |df=dmy-all}} The Australian list does not correspond to similar lists of other countries or international organisations.

In August 2018 five Australians who had travelled to fight with the Islamic State were stripped of Australian citizenship and barred from reentering Australia. This was possible because they had another citizenship, because international law does not permit the measure being used on individuals with only one citizenship. The five brought the total to six for Australians stripped of citizenship for acts "contrary to their allegiance to Australia".{{Cite web |url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/five-islamic-state-terrorists-stripped-of-australian-citizenship-20180809-p4zwgp.html|title=Five Islamic State terrorists stripped of Australian citizenship|date=2018-08-09|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=2018-08-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180810011440/https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/five-islamic-state-terrorists-stripped-of-australian-citizenship-20180809-p4zwgp.html|archive-date=10 August 2018|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}

{{for| groups currently designated as terrorist organisations|Designated terrorist organisations in Australia}}

A number of terror organisations and terror cells have operated in Australia, with their activities including fund-raising and providing material support for terror activities overseas, as well as plotting and executing domestic terrorism. The following table includes a selection of these groups.

Various right wing extremist groups have posed tangible terrorism threats in Australia over several decades. The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) in the 1970s monitored Safari 8, the Legion of the Frontiersmen of the Commonwealth and the Australian Youth Coalition as terrorist threats, and from the 1980s through to the early 2000s sporadic terrorist activities were undertaken by National Action and the Australian Nationalist Movement.{{Cite web|url=http://theconversation.com/right-wing-extremism-has-a-long-history-in-australia-113842|title=Right-wing extremism has a long history in Australia|last=Campion|first=Kristy|website=The Conversation|date=20 March 2019 |language=en|access-date=2019-05-06}}

In the wake of the 2019 Christchurch mosque terrorist attacks at Al Noor Mosque and Linwood Islamic Centre in Christchurch, New Zealand, perpetrated by Australian Brenton Harrison Tarrant from Grafton, a self-described "Ethno-nationalist, "Eco-fascist", "Kebab removalist" "racist", New South Wales Police Commissioner Michael Fuller identified the likelihood of right wing lone wolf terrorist attacks in Australia as "an emerging risk" and indicated he will consider boosting resources into the anti-terrorism squad focused on right-wing extremists.{{Cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-03-16/christchurch-shooting-sparks-right-wing-police-focus-in-nsw/10908072|title=Right-wing extremists a 'primary focus' for NSW anti-terror squads|last=Sas|first=Nick|date=2019-03-16|website=ABC News|language=en-AU|access-date=2019-05-06}} Recent examples of such right wing extremist 'lone wolves' include white supremacist Michael Holt, jailed for weapons and child pornography offences after threatening to carry out a mass shooting at a shopping centre on the NSW Central Coast,{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/white-supremacist-threatened-to-shoot-up-sydney-shopping-centre-20170120-gtvod0.html|title=White supremacist threatened to shoot up Central Coast shopping centre|last=Olding|first=Rachel|date=2017-01-28|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=2019-05-06}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/white-supremacist-michael-holt-sentenced-to-45-years-for-weapons-child-porn-offences-20170929-gyrmuf.html|title=White supremacist Michael Holt sentenced to 4.5 years for weapons, child porn offences|last=Alexander|first=Harriet|date=2017-09-29|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=2019-05-06}} and Phillip Galea, convicted of terrorism charges relating to planned bombings of left wing organisations in Melbourne.

A number of incidents relating to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) terrorist group have involved Australians and garnered the attention of the Australian public. ISIL is a militant Sunni group which has been proscribed by Australian authorities as a terrorist organisation.{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalsecurity.gov.au/Listedterroristorganisations/Pages/IslamicState.aspx|title=Australian National Security – Islamic State|work=Australian Government|access-date=26 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808170809/http://www.nationalsecurity.gov.au/Listedterroristorganisations/Pages/IslamicState.aspx|archive-date=8 August 2014|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}

In 2014, two Australian Islamic extremists made a propaganda video encouraging Australians to join the ISIL, According to the Australian government, up to 150 Australians "have been or are currently overseas fighting with extremists in Iraq and Syria." One Australian jihadist, Khaled Sharrouf, posted a picture of himself, and another of his son, holding a decapitated soldier's head.{{cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/defence/jihads-child-soldiers-spark-calls-for-action-on-extremists/story-e6frg8yo-1227021107132|title=Jihad's 'child soldiers' spark calls for action on extremists|author=Maley, Paul|date=12 August 2014|work=The Australian|access-date=12 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812070911/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/defence/jihads-child-soldiers-spark-calls-for-action-on-extremists/story-e6frg8yo-1227021107132|archive-date=12 August 2014|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}

ISIL recruited Australian nationals for terror attacks in the Middle East including suicide bombings as late as March 2015.{{cite news |title=Australia probes reports teenager died in IS suicide attack |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-31843889 |access-date=12 March 2015 |work=BBC News Australia |publisher=BBC |date=12 March 2015 |quote=IS propaganda published on Thursday claimed that Jake Bilardi, 18, died in a co-ordinated series of suicide bombs in Ramadi in Anbar province, Iraq. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150312090212/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-31843889 |archive-date=12 March 2015 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}{{cite news|url=https://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/first-australian-suicide-bomber-in-iraq-reportedly-kills-three-people-in-baghdad-20140718-3c4oe.html|title=First Australian suicide bomber in Iraq reportedly kills three people in Baghdad|author=Wroe, David|date=18 July 2014|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=26 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140720102705/http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/first-australian-suicide-bomber-in-iraq-reportedly-kills-three-people-in-baghdad-20140718-3c4oe.html|archive-date=20 July 2014|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}{{cite news |url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/sydney-teen-kills-five-in-suicide-bombing-on-crowded-iraqi-market/story-fni0cx12-1226994186108 |title=Sydney teen kills five in suicide bombing on crowded Iraqi market |last1=Benson |first1=Simon |last2=Mullany |first2=Ashley |date=19 July 2014 |work=Daily Telegraph |access-date=26 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140718204536/http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/sydney-teen-kills-five-in-suicide-bombing-on-crowded-iraqi-market/story-fni0cx12-1226994186108 |archive-date=18 July 2014 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }} Eighteen-year-old Jake Bilardi, known as Jihadi Jake, converted to Sunni Islam. He died on 11 March 2015 when he carried out a suicide bombing in Ramadi, Iraq.{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-31843885 |title=Australian teen 'killed in IS suicide attack' in Iraq |work=BBC News |date=12 March 2015 |access-date=21 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150520124741/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-31843885 |archive-date=20 May 2015 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}

In 2015 it was reported that more than 20 Australians who have fought with ISIL have returned and are being monitored by security agencies. Then Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has said, "there is a risk they will come back as battle-hardened experienced terrorists ... and try to carry out terrorist attacks".{{cite news|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/australian-death-cult-jihadists-who-fought-with-islamic-state-in-syria-return-to-roam-our-streets/story-fni0cx12-1227172123858|title=Australian death cult jihadists who fought with Islamic State in Syria return to roam our streets|author=Meers, Daniel|date=2 January 2015|work=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=4 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150528190222/http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/australian-death-cult-jihadists-who-fought-with-islamic-state-in-syria-return-to-roam-our-streets/story-fni0cx12-1227172123858|archive-date=28 May 2015|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}

The Attorney-General Senator George Brandis has expressed concern that those fighting jihad, then returning from the Middle East, represent, "the most significant risk to Australia's security that we have faced in many years."{{cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/policy/returned-radicalised-jihadis-a-significant-risk-says-asio/story-e6frg8yo-1226991564685 |title=Returned radicalised jihadis 'a significant risk', says ASIO|author=Brendan Nicholson|date=17 July 2014|work=The Australian|access-date=26 July 2014}} The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) is concerned that Australians fighting jihad may return home to plan terror attacks.{{cite news|url= http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/asio-fears-australians-fighting-jihad-overseas-may-return-home-to-plan-terror-attacks/story-e6frg6n6-1226992686683 |title=ASIO fears Australians fighting jihad overseas may return home to plan terror attacks |author=Marszalek, Jessica|date=17 July 2014|work=The Australian|access-date=26 July 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://asio.gov.au/Publications/Speeches-and-Statements/Speeches-and-Statements/DGs-Speech-12-August-2014.html|title=Director-General's speech: Address to the Australian Institute of International Affairs "Evolution of terrorism - and what it means for Australia"|author=Irvine, David|date=12 August 2014|work=Australian Security Intelligence Organisation|access-date=14 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140814104840/http://asio.gov.au/Publications/Speeches-and-Statements/Speeches-and-Statements/DGs-Speech-12-August-2014.html|archive-date=14 August 2014|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} In October 2014, ISIL published an online video in which a teenage Australian Jihadi, Abdullah Elmir, threatened the United States and Australia, naming U.S. President Barack Obama and Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott as targets.[http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2014-10-21/australian-is-fighter-threatens-tony-abbott-in-video/5830040 "Australian teenager Abdullah Elmir appears in Islamic State video."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150124030326/http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2014-10-21/australian-is-fighter-threatens-tony-abbott-in-video/5830040 |date=24 January 2015 }} ABC News. 21 October 2014.

On 18 April 2015, at least 200 police officers conducted a series of raids in Melbourne, frustrating a terror plot planned for ANZAC Day. During the raids Sevdet Besim was arrested, and in June 2016 pleaded guilty to planning a terrorism attack, in which he planned to behead a police officer.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/apr/19/melbourne-teenager-charged-with-terrorism-offence-as-three-released|title=Victorian police granted order to hold man without charge following Melbourne raids|work=The Guardian|date=19 April 2015 |accessdate=2023-05-29 |last1=Farrell |first1=Paul |last2=Davey |first2=Melissa }}{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-06-30/sevdet-besim-pleads-guilty-anzac-day-terror-plot/7557574|title=Anzac Day terror plot: Melbourne teen Sevdet Besim pleads guilty to planning act of terrorism|work=ABC News|date=30 June 2016 |accessdate=2023-05-29}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/sep/05/sevdet-besim-handed-10-year-jail-term-for-anzac-day-terror-plot|title=Sevdet Besim handed 10-year jail term for Anzac Day terror plot|work=The Guardian|date=5 September 2016 |accessdate=2023-05-29}} In October 2015, a British minor from Blackburn was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison for being the mastermind of the plot.{{cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2015/10/02/europe/britains-youngest-jihadi/index.html|title=Britain's youngest terror mastermind jailed for life for Anzac Day plot|work=Edition CNN|date=2 October 2015 |accessdate=2023-05-29}}{{cite web|url=https://news.sky.com/story/britains-youngest-terrorist-jailed-over-plot-to-kill-police-can-be-freed-parole-board-rules-12191536|title=Britain's youngest terrorist jailed over plot to kill police can be freed, Parole Board rules|work=Sky News|accessdate=2023-05-29}} In January 2021, the Parole Board said that "considerable progress that had been made" in his rehabilitation, and that he was suitable for release.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-55707342|title=Youngest person in UK convicted of terrorism offence can go free - Parole Board|work=BBC News|date=18 January 2021 |accessdate=2023-05-29}}{{cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2021/01/19/uk/rxg-anzac-day-parole-release-intl-hnk/index.html|title=Jailed for life over plot to behead police officer, Britain's youngest convicted terrorist is now 'suitable for release'|work=Edition CNN|date=19 January 2021 |accessdate=2023-05-29}}

According to witnesses, some years later, some the officers committed some abuses during the raid; they had thrown a suspect into a fridge, causing a deep cut, made repeated racial slurs to an Aboriginal man and assaulted him. The Australian federal police spent years denying these accusations.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/may/30/what-actually-happened-victim-of-anzac-day-terrorist-raids-speaks-about-seven-year-wait-for-justice|title='What actually happened?': victim of Anzac Day terrorist raids speaks about seven-year wait for justice|work=The Guardian|date=29 May 2022 |accessdate=2023-05-29 |last1=Bucci |first1=Nino }}

On 6 September 2016 ISIL published a new online magazine in which they urged "lone wolves" to carry out attacks:{{blockquote|Kill them on the streets of Brunswick, Broadmeadows, Bankstown, and Bondi. Kill them at the MCG, the SCG, the Opera House, and even in their backyards,{{cite news |author1=Kim Stephens|author2=James Dowling|author3=David Hurley|author4=Tori Shepherd |title=Lone wolves encouraged to kill Australians at MCG, and in Brunswick, Broadmeadows, Islamic State magazine urges |url=http://www.news.com.au/national/victoria/lone-wolves-encouraged-to-kill-australians-at-mcg-and-in-brunswick-broadmeadows-islamic-state-magazine-urges/news-story/ceef2e92363ee47a9a3be345d0250205 |access-date=9 September 2016 |work=news.com.au|date=7 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160910014322/http://www.news.com.au/national/victoria/lone-wolves-encouraged-to-kill-australians-at-mcg-and-in-brunswick-broadmeadows-islamic-state-magazine-urges/news-story/ceef2e92363ee47a9a3be345d0250205 |archive-date=10 September 2016 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}}}

The same statement was published in other languages naming locations in France, Germany and Indonesia.

Two days later on 8 September a man was detained at the Sydney Opera House after acting suspiciously. He was later charged with "threatening to destroy or damage property."{{cite news |title=Sydney Opera House: Man arrested for 'extremist remarks' |url=http://www.news.com.au/national/sydney-opera-house-man-arrested-for-extremist-remarks/news-story/0b7b7cc1c7126faf16c144992bf126f7 |access-date=9 September 2016 |agency=AAP |work=news.com.au |date=9 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160909141950/http://www.news.com.au/national/sydney-opera-house-man-arrested-for-extremist-remarks/news-story/0b7b7cc1c7126faf16c144992bf126f7 |archive-date=9 September 2016 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}

In 2015 the New South Wales Police Force's Counter Terrorism and Special Tactics Command assessed that members of the anti-government sovereign citizen movement posed a potential terrorist threat. At the time there were reported to be 300 members of this movement in the state. While there had been no incidents of violence associated with sovereign citizens in Australia at that time, the NSW Police were concerned that members of the movement were becoming radicalised and could commit attacks such as those made by sovereign citizens in the United States.{{cite news|last1=Thomas|first1=James|last2=McGregor|first2=Jeanavive|title=Sovereign citizens: Terrorism assessment warns of rising threat from anti-government extremists|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-11-30/australias-sovereign-citizen-terrorism-threat/6981114|access-date=30 November 2015|work=ABC News|date=30 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151130183050/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-11-30/australias-sovereign-citizen-terrorism-threat/6981114|archive-date=30 November 2015|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}

Researchers have observed that Muslims in Australia have become a "stigmatised minority", subject to increased surveillance by state authorities as well as public discourse that constructs Muslims as a potential terrorist threat. Researchers term this the "suspect community" thesis. Researchers study how Muslims perceive themselves as a suspect community and how this influences their support for counter-terrorism efforts.Cherney, Adrian and Kristina Murphy. "Being a 'suspect community: in a post 9/11 world – The impact of the war on terror on Muslim communities in Australia." Australian & New Zealand Journal of Criminology. May 7, 2015.Breen-Smyth M. (2014) "Theorising the "suspect community": Counterterrorism, security practices and the public imagination." Critical Studies on Terrorism 7(2): 223–240.

Terrorism in Australia has impacted the Australian Jewish community. After the 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States, the Australian Jewish community became a prime target of Al-Qaeda terror cells.Lawrence, D. (2017). A Sense of Embattlement: Australian Jewish Community Leadership's Response to 9/11. Memory and the Wars on Terror: Australian and British Perspectives, 201-217. Notable terrorist incidents impacting the Jewish community in Australia include the 1982 bombing of a Jewish centre in Sydney, and the 2024 firebombing of a Melbourne synagogue.{{citation needed|date=March 2025}}

• {{annotated link| 2002 Bali bombings }}

• 1969 Al-Aqsa mosque fire in East Jerusalem, Palestine (Denis Michael Rohan)
• 2019 Christchurch mosque shootings in Aotearoa / New Zealand

The following Australians were not convicted of any specific terrorist attacks:

• {{annotated link|David Hicks}}

{{Portal|Australia}}

{{div col}}

• List of terrorist incidents in Australia
• Martin Bryant
• Christchurch mosque shootings
• Crime in Australia
• Islamic terrorism in Europe
• List of terrorist incidents
• List of assassinations in Lebanon
• Terrorism in the United States
• Hindu terrorism
• Left-wing terrorism
• Right-wing terrorism
• True Blue Crew

{{div col end}}

{{Clear}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Law enforcement in Australia}}

{{Oceania topic|Terrorism in}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Terrorism In Australia}}

Australia

Category:Human rights abuses in Australia