澳大利亚One Nation党领袖保琳·汉森提出《保护澳大利亚人免受外国恐怖分子法案》，拟于8月议会复会时提交，目标是加强对与恐怖分子有关联的澳大利亚公民回国的限制权力[1]。该提案包括扩大取消或拒绝护照的权力、为恐怖分子创建新的驱逐令类别，以及加强恐怖主义指控保释法[1]。
政府内务部长托尼·伯克对此提案进行了尖锐批评，声称这样的法律"在高等法院会持续大约30秒"[1][2]。伯克表示现行法律已经"完全达到宪法允许的极限"[2]，并警告汉森的提案会违宪。他指出，每个国家都必须接收自己的公民，这一国际法原则构成了澳大利亚遣返制度的基础，极端措施可能削弱澳大利亚驱逐外国罪犯的能力[1][2]。澳大利亚每年约驱逐750人[1]。悉尼大学宪法律师安妮·特沃米表示，法院要满足汉森提案的标准将"极其困难"[2]。
总理安东尼·阿尔巴尼斯指出，在政府上台前已有45名与伊斯兰国作战的男性回到澳大利亚[1]。汉森的提案还将对协助与恐怖分子关联人士返回澳大利亚的人进行刑事处罚[1]。前内务部秘书迈克·皮佐洛曾建议作为"妥协"方案，赋予部长更多权力控制临时驱逐令下的回国许可证自动签发程序[2]。
Australia's One Nation party has introduced counter-terrorism legislation designed to restrict the return of Australian citizens with terrorist affiliations, but government officials have dismissed the proposal as constitutionally unworkable. The party plans to submit the "Protect Australians from Foreign Terrorists Bill" when parliament resumes in August.[1]
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke rejected the proposal outright, stating it would "last about 30 seconds" in the High Court.[1][2] Burke warned that such a law violates constitutional protections requiring nations to accept their own citizens and would jeopardize Australia's existing deportation system for foreign criminals.[1] The minister noted that Australia currently deports approximately 750 people annually.[1][2]
One Nation's proposal would expand ministerial powers to cancel or refuse passports for suspected terrorists, create new deportation orders targeting individuals with terrorist associations, and strengthen bail conditions for those facing terrorism charges.[1] The bill would also impose criminal penalties on anyone assisting people with terrorist connections to return to Australia.[1] One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has specifically sought to prevent Australians who fought for ISIS from re-entering the country and to revoke passports of convicted terrorists.[2]
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese noted that 45 ISIS-linked men had returned to Australia before the government took office.[1] Constitutional lawyer Anne Twomey from the University of Sydney stated that courts would find it "extremely difficult" to satisfy the standards set out in Hanson's bill.[2]
The government has suggested an alternative approach: former Home Affairs Secretary Mike Pizzolo proposed removing automatic approval for return permits under temporary deportation orders as a "compromise" measure,[2] while Burke insisted existing laws already operate at "the constitutional limit."[2]