The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) has recommended the Federal government consider listing Hizballah in its entirety as a terrorist organisation.

Media release issue date: Tuesday, 22 June 2021

The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) has recommended the Federal government consider listing Hizballah in its entirety as a terrorist organisation. The PJCIS today tabled its report on the Review of the re-listing of Hizballah’s External Security Organisation as a terrorist organisation under the Criminal Code. While the committee supported the relisting of Hizballah’s External Security Organisation (ESO) under the Criminal Code it has also recommended that the government consider expanding the listing to include the whole organisation of Hizballah. Committee Chair Senator James Paterson, said that the committee is supportive of the government’s decision to relist Hizballah’s ESO but is concerned that Australia is falling behind its Five Eyes partners and many other countries. The US, Canada and more recently the UK have listed the entire Hizballah organisation as a terrorist group while New Zealand has proscribed Hizballah’s military wing as a terrorist group. “The evidence provided to the committee was overwhelmingly supportive of proscribing Hizballah in its entirety as a terrorist organisation, rather than only the ESO. On the strength of this evidence, the committee thinks it’s time for the government to consider expanding the listing as all of our Five Eyes partners have done,” Senator Paterson said. Deputy Chair Mr Anthony Byrne MP concurred, “It’s clear that the distinction drawn between the ESO and the rest of Hizballah is arbitrary, and in the committee’s judgement, not something Australia should persist with.” Further information on the inquiry as well as a copy of the report can be obtained from the Committee’s website. Media inquiries: Chair, Senator James Paterson via Deborah Seccombe on 0451 255 891 or deborah.seccombe@aph.gov.au For background information:  Committee Secretariat (02) 6277 2360 pjcis@aph.gov.au For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right hand corner of the page.

The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) will hold a public hearing tomorrow for its Review of the re-listing of Hizballah’s External Security Organisation as a terrorist organisation under the Criminal Code.

Media release issue date: Wednesday, 9 June 2021

The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) will hold a public hearing tomorrow for its Review of the re-listing of Hizballah’s External Security Organisation as a terrorist organisation under the Criminal Code. The Committee will hear from the Government agencies such as the Department of Home Affairs, ASIO and the Australian Government Solicitor. It will also hear evidence from community groups and experts on Hizballah. Chair of the Committee, Senator James Paterson, said that public hearings on these re-listings are an important part of the PJCIS’s oversight functions. “The decision to list or not list an entity as a terrorist organisation is significant, and parliamentary scrutiny of these decisions is crucial,” he said. Further information on the inquiry can be obtained from the Committee’s website. Public Hearing Details Thursday, 10 June 2021 9:30AM – 2:30PM (AEST) Committee Room 2R1, Parliament House, Canberra A program for the hearing can be found here and the hearing will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live Media inquiries: Chair, Senator James Paterson via Deborah Seccombe on 0451 255 891 or deborah.seccombe@aph.gov.au For background information:  Committee Secretariat (02) 6277 2360 pjcis@aph.gov.au For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right hand corner of the page.

The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) has commenced a review of the re-listing of Hizballah’s External Security Organisation as a terrorist organisation under the Criminal Code Act 1995 (the Criminal Code).

Media release issue date: Wednesday, 12 May 2021

The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) has commenced a review of the re-listing of Hizballah’s External Security Organisation as a terrorist organisation under the Criminal Code Act 1995 (the Criminal Code). Hizballah’s External Security Organisation is an entity within Hizballah responsible for various activities including intelligence, surveillance, planning and executing terrorist acts against Hizballah’s enemies outside of Lebanon. Its operations are generally clandestine activities targeting United States and Israeli interests in the Middle East. Under section 102.1A of the Criminal Code, the Committee may review listings of terrorist organisations and report its findings to each house of the Parliament within the 15 sitting day disallowance period. Members of the public are welcome to make submissions to this review. Submissions should be provided no later than 5pm on Wednesday, 26 May 2021. Further information on the inquiry can be obtained from the Committee’s website. Media inquiries: Chair, Senator James Paterson via Deborah Seccombe on 0451 255 891 or deborah.seccombe@aph.gov.au For background information:  Committee Secretariat (02) 6277 2360 pjcis@aph.gov.au For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right hand corner of the page.