Australias-Counter-Terrorism-Strategy-2015

1 Note that Australians (suspected foreign fighters) have also been involved in conflicts in Somalia, Chechnya andelsewhere.Terrorism in our regionMany Southeast Asian countries have builtsignificant counter-terrorism capabilities overthe last decade.Indonesia, in particular, has proven veryeffective in degrading and reducing thecapabilities of violent extremist organisations.In recent years it has emerged as a regionalcounter-terrorism leader.The conflicts in Syria and Iraq have alsoattracted extremists from across SoutheastAsia. Many will seek to return to plan attacksagainst local and Western targets and attemptto extend the reach of ISIL’s self-declaredcaliphate.These fighters will spread knowledge, skillsand resources, and strengthen internationalterrorist connections. These were the two keyelements in the 2002 to 2009 anti-Westernbombing campaigns in Bali and Jakarta.other racially- and culturally-motivatedideologies.The increased threat from groups such as ISILand AQ and sympathisers within Australia hastriggered some hate propaganda and attacksby nationalist and white supremacistextremist movements and individuals. This isexacerbating local intercommunal tensionsand risks reinforcing terrorist recruitmentpropaganda by fueling perceptions of Muslimpersecution.Over time, the terrorism threat picture forAustralia will change. Groups on the politicalfar right, for instance, have posed a terroristthreat in the past and may resurface.However, there is no evidence that suchgroups pose a significant threat to Australia inthe short to medium term.As returning foreign fighters bolster the ranksof extremists in the region, terrorists involvedin earlier attacks, particularly in the period of2000 to 2010, have served their sentencesand are being released from Southeast Asianprisons. Many of these individuals will retaintheir violent extremist views and maytherefore bolster regional terroristcapabilities.Given the large number of Australians whotravel to Southeast Asia for tourism orbusiness, the possibility of another masscasualty attack involving Australians cannot beruled out.Other potential threatsViolence in the Middle East may sparkcommunal tensions in Australia. Socialcohesion could also be undermined by violentexpressions of Islamophobia, anti-Semitism or4 | AUSTRALIA’S COUNTER-TERRORISM STRATEGY