George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

Once again, Senator Johnston, you identify a particularly important problem. I am aware of reports that at least one of the individuals involved in the Paris attacks had previously fought with the militant group ISIL in Syria. I can tell you and the Senate that, at the moment, we judge that around 110 Australians are currently fighting in Syria and Iraq, among more than 25,000 foreign fighters—almost a fifth of them from the West—who have travelled to the region to join groups such as ISIL. Approximately 30 Australians have returned home from fighting in the conflict.

The government is addressing the threats we face. We work closely with law enforcement and security agencies to give them, as I said, the tools that they need, including the fifth tranche of counter-terrorism legislation which I introduced on 12 November. We are unstinting in our efforts to— (Time expired)