Terrorism – Declared Overseas Area Offence

The Australian Government has enacted the offence of entering or remaining in a declared area under the Criminal Code Act 1995 (s119.2). This approach is based upon the Australian Government’s concern about Australians who travel to conflict zones and then return to Australia with skills and intentions acquired from fighting or training with terrorist groups.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs is able to declare relevant and therefore prohibited areas overseas if satisfied a listed terrorist organisation is engaged in hostile activity in that area.

Recently, declared areas in March 2015 identify land within Iraq and Syria. These areas are listed on the Australian National Security website.  It is a criminal offence for a person to intentionally enter or remain in a declared area unless it is solely for a legitimate purpose or purposes.

More information - http://www.nationalsecurity.gov.au/WhatAustraliaisdoing/Pages/DeclaredAreaOffence.aspx