Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has listed Terrorgram as a terrorist organisation. Photo: Facebook.
White supremacist online network Terrorgram has been officially listed as a terrorist organisation under Australia’s Criminal Code.
Group members and anyone found supporting it will face penalties of up to 25 years in prison.
That includes those who train with the network, recruit for it or provide it with funds.
Announcing the network’s listing on Friday (27 June), Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said it was done to keep Australians safe from violent extremism.
“This listing will give Australian police and security and intelligence agencies significantly more power to keep Australians safe and restrict the operation of extremists in our country,” Mr Burke said.
“Online radicalisation is a growing threat but the government has tools at its disposal and we will use every one of them to keep Australians safe.
“This group fosters and promotes an ideology that would seek to make some Australians feel unwelcome in their home. It is this extremist hatred which is not welcome and has no place in Australia.”
Mr Burke said Terrorgram users created and distributed propaganda to inspire terrorist attacks on minority groups, critical infrastructure and specific individuals.
The nationalist group advocates for and provides instructions on how to conduct a terrorist attack, and has successfully inspired such attacks in the United States, Europe and Asia.
Terrorgram is a racist, violent extremist organisation operating on decentralised and encrypted platforms, primarily Telegram.
“By listing Terrorgram, the Australian Government is acting to keep Australians safe from terrorism and violent extremism,” the Minister said.
“The Australian Government will continue to use all the tools available to prevent the rise of violent extremism, to confront racially motivated violence and to counter hate in all its forms.”
Mr Burke said listing an organisation was an important deterrent for, and response to, terrorist activity.
“Under Division 102 of the Criminal Code it is an offence to be a member of, associate with members of, recruit for, train with, get funds to, from or for, or provide support to, a terrorist organisation,” he said.
“These offences are punishable by harsh penalties of up to 25 years’ imprisonment.
“Australia continues to work closely with international partners to combat terrorism and violent extremism globally.
“This listing is aligned with similar actions already undertaken by the United Kingdom and the United States regarding Terrorgram.”
The listing of Terrorgram under the Criminal Code complements the counter-terrorism financing sanctions already imposed on the network in February by Foreign Minister Penny Wong under Section 15 of the Charter of the United Nations Act 1945.
Members of the public can provide information to assist security and law-enforcement agencies identify potential threats and prevent them from developing.
Mr Burke said “If it doesn’t add up, speak up” by calling the National Security Hotline on 1800 123 400. For more information on Australia’s counter-terrorism efforts and listed organisations, visit the Australian National Security website.
Speaking to ABC Radio, Mr Burke said Terrorgram was unlike other groups listed as terrorist organisations.
“This is very different to a lot of the listings that people would have heard about in the past,” he said.
“When people think about a terrorist group organising, normally you imagine people in small groups, meeting in private homes or something and gradually recruiting people to their cause before they organise something.
“This is more like a giant chat group dedicated to evil, hatred and to violence.”
He said the neo-Nazi group had been linked to a particular racist attack in Australia.
It has been formally linked to a plot to kill NSW Labor MP Tim Crakanthorp.
“You never stop chasing these characters down, you never stop,” Mr Burke said.
“This listing won’t be the last thing we have to do against far-right white supremacist groups. There will be more.”
