Pauline Hanson has unveiled a sweeping new proposal aimed at preventing Australians who voluntarily joined the Islamic State (ISIS) from ever returning to the country, arguing that Parliament’s foremost responsibility is to protect the Australian public from terrorism.

The One Nation leader announced the Protecting Australians from Foreign Terrorist Fighters Bill 2026 after renewed concern surrounding reports that a group of Australian men who fought or allegedly supported ISIS remain imprisoned in Iraq and could seek repatriation if released.

Among those reported to be detained is Perth-born former doctor Tareq Kamleh, widely known as “Dr Jihad”, who travelled to Syria during the height of ISIS’s territorial expansion and later appeared in extremist propaganda encouraging Muslims to either travel to ISIS-controlled territory or wage jihad elsewhere. Recent reports indicate Kamleh is alive in an Iraqi prison after previously being believed dead.

Hanson argues that Australia should not be placed in a position where individuals who voluntarily joined a listed terrorist organisation can return simply because existing legislation limits the government’s options.

“The safety of Australians should come first,” Hanson said while calling for Parliament to strengthen existing counter-terrorism laws.

Her announcement follows ongoing national debate over the repatriation of Australians linked to ISIS, including women and children who have already returned under previous government decisions. The issue has become increasingly prominent following renewed reporting about Australians still detained overseas.

Concerns over existing laws

According to Hanson, current legislation may not provide sufficient legal authority to permanently prevent Australian citizens who served ISIS from returning if constitutional and legal obligations require their admission.

She argues that if existing laws prevent ministers from acting to protect public safety, then Parliament should amend those laws rather than accept what she considers an unacceptable security risk.

The proposal comes as debate continues over the legal limits governments face when dealing with Australian citizens overseas. Constitutional protections, citizenship rights and Australia’s international obligations all influence how governments respond when citizens detained abroad seek to return.

The Albanese Government has consistently maintained that it does not support Australians who voluntarily joined terrorist organisations and that national security agencies will continue using every available legal power to keep Australians safe. Ministers have also emphasised that constitutional constraints limit what governments can lawfully do in certain circumstances.

Secret meeting allegations

Hanson also raised concerns about departmental records relating to a meeting between Home Affairs officials and advocates campaigning for the return of Australians linked to ISIS.

According to material cited by One Nation, handwritten departmental notes recorded comments allegedly attributed to “TB”, including references to trying to “find a way”, not wanting government to “rule it out”, and suggesting that the success of an earlier group of returnees could assist future repatriations.

One Nation further claims another departmental record noted the minister thanked advocates for keeping discussions out of the media before a departmental official left the room so a “frank discussion” could continue.

Hanson argues these records raise serious questions about whether pathways were being explored to facilitate future returns.

However, she also acknowledges important uncertainties remain. The records do not reveal what was discussed after the departmental official left, whether any commitments were ultimately made, or whether any mechanism is actually being used to facilitate the return of male ISIS fighters.

Those allegations have not been independently verified in public, and no official findings establishing wrongdoing have been released.

What’s in One Nation’s proposed Bill?

One Nation says its legislation has been drafted specifically to address what it views as shortcomings in existing counter-terrorism laws.

The centrepiece of the proposal is the creation of a Foreign Terrorist Fighter Exclusion Order.

Under the proposal, the Home Affairs Minister could apply to the Federal Court seeking an order preventing a person from returning to Australia where the Court is satisfied that:

• the individual voluntarily served, participated in or materially supported a listed terrorist organisation;
• the individual poses an unacceptable risk to Australians; and
• that risk cannot be managed through less restrictive measures.

The proposal would also suspend any requirement for the minister to issue or consider return permits while exclusion proceedings are before the Court.

One Nation says this would prevent automatic administrative processes from allowing individuals to return before courts have assessed the security risk.

Further proposed reforms

The Bill also proposes significant changes to Australia’s counter-terrorism framework.

Among the additional measures are:

• stronger bail laws making community safety and national security the paramount considerations;
• greater powers to refuse, suspend or cancel Australian passports;
• new criminal offences carrying penalties of up to ten years’ imprisonment for organising or facilitating the unauthorised return of terrorist fighters; and
• continued judicial oversight through Federal Court supervision of exclusion orders.

According to One Nation, exclusion orders would remain valid for up to two years, with any extension requiring fresh court proceedings supported by updated national security assessments.

The party argues this approach balances public safety with judicial oversight rather than leaving decisions solely in ministerial hands.

Political context

Hanson says she recently wrote to Opposition Leader Angus Taylor offering to work together on stronger legislation.

She argues that an Opposition Bill introduced earlier this year represents a positive step but does not fully prevent foreign terrorist fighters from returning to Australia.

Earlier Coalition legislation—the Criminal Code Amendment (Keeping Australia Safe) Bill 2026—proposed new offences relating to facilitating the return of certain terrorism-linked individuals, although that Private Senator’s Bill did not proceed through Parliament.

One Nation contends its new proposal goes further by directly creating a court-based exclusion mechanism designed to prevent the return of individuals assessed as presenting an ongoing unacceptable threat.

Reports indicate Hanson is seeking support from crossbench MPs as well as Coalition parliamentarians ahead of Parliament’s return.

Government position

Labor ministers have repeatedly stated that Australians who joined ISIS receive no government assistance and that authorities will continue to use every lawful power available to protect the public.

Government representatives have also argued that Australia’s existing counter-terrorism framework was developed over many years with advice from intelligence and security agencies and already reflects constitutional limitations.

Officials have pointed out that previous governments also dealt with returning Australians linked to ISIS, emphasising that any individual returning to Australia would remain subject to investigation, prosecution and ongoing security monitoring where appropriate.

Why the debate matters

The debate illustrates the continuing challenge democratic countries face when dealing with citizens who travelled overseas to join internationally recognised terrorist organisations.

On one hand are concerns about constitutional rights, citizenship obligations and judicial oversight. On the other are demands that governments use every possible legal avenue to minimise future terrorism risks.

Hanson argues that anyone who voluntarily chose to serve ISIS instead of Australia—and who continues to present an unacceptable security threat—should never be permitted to return.

Her party says the proposed legislation is intended to ensure Australians are not exposed to unnecessary risks because of perceived legal gaps.

Whether One Nation’s Bill ultimately gains sufficient parliamentary support remains uncertain. Nevertheless, the proposal is likely to intensify national discussion over Australia’s counter-terrorism laws, ministerial powers and the balance between constitutional protections and public safety as Parliament prepares to consider further national security legislation in the months ahead.