(AAP) Some of the women who joined conflicts in Iraq and Syria pose just as much risk to Australians as male foreign fighters if they’re allowed back, Peter Dutton has warned.
The home affairs minister insists a new crackdown on foreign fighters includes appropriate checks and balances.
Legislation aimed at preventing extremists from returning to Australia for up to two years was being debated in the Senate on Wednesday night, after passing the lower house on Tuesday.
Authorities believe about 230 Australians joined the conflict in Syria and Iraq, of whom about 100 were killed and 40 have returned.
It’s been reported more than half of those Australians left in the Middle East are women and children.
