Australias-Counter-Terrorism-Strategy-2015

3. SHAPING THEGLOBALENVIRONMENTTerrorism is a global issue – the threat toAustralia is directly related to terrorismabroad. This is evidenced by the spread ofISIL’s propaganda into Australia’s suburbs andcommunities, and the flow of fighters to andfrom conflict zones in the Middle East. Ourcounter-terrorism activities must therefore beglobal in outlook. We will have the greatestimpact when we work with partners incoordinated global action against terrorism.Australia implements sanctions againstterrorist groups and contributes to developingbest practices and strengthening internationalframeworks for responding to terrorism. Wedo this by working with partner countriesthrough multilateral bodies including theUnited Nations and the GlobalCounter-Terrorism Forum.We also work with civil society to counterinternational violent extremism.Working with partner countriesAustralia has strong, long-standingrelationships with traditional securitypartners, particularly the United States,United Kingdom, Canada and New Zealand.Our intelligence and information-sharingarrangements, legal cooperation, and defencepartnerships with these key countries help uscounter terrorism at home and abroad.Australia also works with other partnercountries to share information, build capacityand capability and engage in operations todegrade and disrupt and prosecute terroristsand their activities. We cooperate oncounter-terrorism with a number of countries,in particular across Southeast Asia, andincreasingly with partners in the Middle Eastand Europe.In some cases, Australia has also contributedto international military efforts to remove orlimit the strategic space available to terroristgroups. Our operations in Afghanistan and Iraqare examples of such efforts.Information sharingAustralia shares intelligence with partnercountries to identify and disrupt terroristnetworks. Information regarding persons andorganisations of concern, such as theirinternational travel and financial transactions,help Australia and its partners build a morecomplete picture of terrorism financing,terrorist movements and networks.Australia works with international partners tostop the illegal flow of funds to terroriststhrough front organisations, registeredfinancial institutions or not-for-profits.Terrorist groups also use a range of financingmethods. These includes taxing goods andwages; controlling resources such as oil, gas,crops and minerals; kidnapping for ransom;theft and selling stolen antiquities.Capacity and capability buildingAustralia works closely with regional partnersto develop counter-terrorism capacity andcapability. Commonwealth agencies providetraining, advice and resources to:• Strengthen counter-terrorism laws.• Develop the skills of law enforcement andintelligence agencies to disrupt terroristnetworks.• Facilitate the use of advanced technology toidentify, investigate, monitor and counterterrorism.• Build response and recovery capability toterrorist attacks.12 | AUSTRALIA’S COUNTER-TERRORISM STRATEGY