Australia to consider a law on revocation of citizenship for terrorism

A bill providing for the transfer of powers to deprive those convicted of terrorism and a number of other crimes of citizenship to the courts will be submitted for discussion to the Australian Parliament, ABC reports citing the country's Home Affairs Minister Claire O'Neill.

Previously, these powers were given to the head of the Australian Ministry of Internal Affairs, but in June 2022 and November 2023, the Supreme Court, which heard two cases of persons who appealed decisions to deprive them of citizenship on charges and suspicions of terrorism, restored their status.

“These two decisions of the highest authority, that we build this law on, show quite clearly that the Supreme Court considers the termination of citizenship as a punishment, and the only body that can impose punishment is the court,” the ABC agency quoted the minister as saying.

The new bill, among other things, provides for the expansion of the list of crimes for which the perpetrators can be deprived of Australian citizenship. So, according to the plans of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, espionage and promotion of foreign influence will be included in it.

“These two decisions of the highest authority, on which we base this law, show quite clearly that the Supreme Court considers the termination of citizenship as a punishment, and the only body that can impose punishment is the court,” the ABC agency quoted the minister as saying.

The new bill, inter alia, provides for the expansion of the list of crimes for which the perpetrators can be deprived of Australian citizenship. Thus, espionage and promotion of foreign influence will be included in the list, according to the plans of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.