The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (the Committee) will inquire into and report on matters relating to extremist movements and radicalism in Australia.

The Committee will consider the following terms of reference in conducting this inquiry:

1) the nature and extent of, and threat posed by, extremist movements and persons holding extremist views in Australia, with a particular focus on:

a) the motivations, objectives and capacity for violence of extremist groups including, but not limited to, lslamist and far right-wing extremist groups, and how these have changed during the COVID-19 pandemic; and
b) the risk to the community of high risk terrorist offenders;

2) the geographic spread of these extremist movements and persons in Australia, and their links to international extremist organisations;

3) without limiting the other matters that the Committee may consider, issues for specific inquiry are:

a) changes that could be made to the Commonwealth's terrorist organisation listing laws to ensure they are fit for purpose, address current and emerging terrorist threats, reflect international best practice, and provide a barrier to those who may seek to promote an extremist ideology in Australia;
b) changes that could be made to Australia's Counter-Terrorism Strategy in relation to preventing radicalisation to extremist views, including the capacity for further partnership approaches with state, territory and local governments;
c) the role and influence of radical and extremist groups, which currently fall short of the legislative threshold for proscription, in fostering disharmony in Australia and as a conduit to persons on a pathway to extremism;
d) further steps that the Commonwealth could take to disrupt and deter hate speech and establish thresholds to regulate the use of symbols and insignia associated with terrorism and extremism, including online, giving consideration to the experience of other countries;
e) further steps the Commonwealth could take to reinforce social cohesion, counter violent extremism and address the growing diversification of extremist ideology in Australia;
f) the role of social media, encrypted communications platforms and the dark web in allowing extremists to communicate and organise; and
g) any other matters related to these terms of reference, noting the roles and responsibilities of states and territories in Australia's counter-terrorism arrangements, and constitutional limitations.