// Preface //
Australia is facing unprecedented risk! Fifteen high-risk criminals are about to be released from prison. Experts are warning that the Bondi tragedy could happen again!

#01: 15 High-Risk Criminals to be Released, Australia's Counter-Terrorism Defenses Under Strain

Recently, security experts have issued a stern warning: Australia is facing unprecedented risks as fifteen high-risk terrorism-related criminals are set to be released in stages over the next four years!

Counter-terrorism and de-radicalization have once again become a focal point of attention in Australian society.

To prevent the recurrence of incidents like the Bondi terrorist attack, significantly increasing financial investment in de-radicalization programs has become an urgent priority.

Currently, the entire nation of Australia remains on high alert. All sectors of society are turning their attention to the budget announcement in May, urging Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke to allocate specific funding to strengthen support for Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) programs.

In the Safer Australia report released last year by the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) and the Australian Federal Police (AFP), it was already pointed out that Australia's "priority counter-terrorism caseload" has surged dramatically, and the number of young people participating in violent extremism intervention programs has also increased significantly.

The sequential release of fifteen high-risk criminals over the next four years will further increase the workload of police responsible for subsequent monitoring.

Various sectors are therefore urging Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke to allocate dedicated funds in the May budget to increase support for CVE programs. Public opinion widely holds that in the design and implementation of de-radicalization programs, Australia has clearly fallen behind countries like Germany, which have been consistently strengthening related plans.

Dr. John Coyne, Director of the National Security Program at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), emphasized that because the radicalization pathway is different for each individual, related intervention programs must be personalized, requiring significant financial and human resources.

He also noted that Minister Tony Burke needs to explain to the public that countering extremism is not a "precise science" and its governance is far more challenging than imagined.

#02: Home Affairs Department Responds: Dual Approach of Funding + Policy

In response to public calls and concerns, Tony Burke's office stated that government spending on early intervention has already reached record levels, with related funding nearly doubling to $30.3 million per year. An additional $20 million has been specifically allocated to combat anti-Semitism.

In a statement, the Home Affairs Minister's office said that the current terrorism threat environment is constantly evolving. Driven by the online environment, more Australians are being radicalized at an unprecedented rate, with youth groups being particularly vulnerable.

Furthermore, the minister's office highlighted the government's new powers—it can cancel or refuse visas for those who spread hateful and divisive rhetoric within Australia.

However, a report obtained through Freedom of Information laws has heightened public concern about the current state of Australia's de-radicalization work.

Research by the Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC) shows that existing de-radicalization measures have had minimal effect in rehabilitating the behavior of high-risk individuals. More alarmingly, for some participants in intervention programs, their extremist behavior actually worsened during the intervention.

The report clearly warns that some intervention subjects even engaged in producing extremist propaganda materials or publicly expressing support for terrorism, ultimately requiring intervention by law enforcement.

Although signs of attitude change can be seen among some youths holding extremist views, there is still a lack of strong evidence supporting actual behavioral change.

#03: Extremist Groups Continue to Incite; Media Portrays Perpetrator as Hero

Since 2001, at least 23 people in Australia have been convicted on domestic terrorism charges.

This includes individuals like Khaled Temssah, who attempted to travel to India to join the extremist group Islamic State and fight; Sydney architect Faheem Khalid Lodhi, who plotted to blow up the national power grid; actor Omar Baladjam, who stockpiled weapons and shot at police; Mohamed Almaouie, who planned to bomb a police station; and Sevdet Besim, who plotted a beheading during an Anzac Day parade, among other extremists.

The Bondi attack, which shocked Australia, has further heightened societal anxiety about the counter-terrorism situation.

During the Bondi attack, Naveed Akram stood atop the Bondi Beach overpass with his father, firing at the public.

Afterward, the extremist group Islamic State claimed influence over the incident, calling it a "source of pride." Peter Jennings, Director of Strategic Analysis Australia, stated that IS not only glorified the Bondi tragedy as a heroic act but also used its propaganda magazine Al-Naba to portray the Bondi attacker as a "hero," attempting to fashion this attack as a template for global emulation.

Jennings cautioned that while the vast majority of Australians are appalled by the violence, there will always be individuals incited by such propaganda.

Such attacks are often seen by terrorist organizations as prime recruitment opportunities, potentially exacerbating the risk of radicalization in Australian society.

It is worth noting that ASIO has already issued warnings concerning hundreds of Australians who espouse violent ideologies.

However, how to accurately identify truly high-risk individuals from the vast monitoring list with limited resources remains a significant challenge for Australia's counter-terrorism agencies.

Finally,
The path of counter-terrorism is long and arduous. Facing the evolving threat of extremism, Australia's de-radicalization work requires a genuine "upgrade" from the government.

 

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