The nation’s top spy says Palestinians who have expressed rhetorical support for listed terror group Hamas will not necessarily be blocked from entering Australia, as the federal government prepares to announce a new visa pathway to help those fleeing the war in Gaza.
ASIO director-general Mike Burgess also urged politicians to moderate their language, warning that inflammatory rhetoric could encourage aggrieved individuals to turn to violence.
ASIO boss Mike Burgess said inflammatory rhetoric from politicians and other public figures could encourage people to turn to violence. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
Burgess, who last week raised the national terror threat level from “possible” to “probable”, said that providing financial support or material aid to Hamas may be a problem for Palestinians undergoing security checks as part of their visa application process.
It is a different matter if people are expressing support for Hamas because they “want their homeland”, he said.
“If it’s just rhetorical support, and they don’t have an ideology or support for a violent extremism ideology, then that’s not a problem,” Burgess told ABC’s Insiders program on Sunday.
“If they have a support for that ideology, then that will be a problem.”
Hamas, which has governed Gaza since 2007 and organised the October 7 attacks on Israel that led to an estimated 1200 deaths, is a listed terror organisation in Australia.
ASIO conducts security assessments on behalf of the government when assessing potentially risky visa applications.
Burgess’ comments echoed those of former ASIO boss Dennis Richardson, who told this masthead that Palestinian refugees who support Hamas should not be automatically excluded from Australia.
ASIO director-general Mike Burgess also urged politicians to moderate their language, warning that inflammatory rhetoric could encourage aggrieved individuals to turn to violence.
ASIO boss Mike Burgess said inflammatory rhetoric from politicians and other public figures could encourage people to turn to violence. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
Burgess, who last week raised the national terror threat level from “possible” to “probable”, said that providing financial support or material aid to Hamas may be a problem for Palestinians undergoing security checks as part of their visa application process.
It is a different matter if people are expressing support for Hamas because they “want their homeland”, he said.
“If it’s just rhetorical support, and they don’t have an ideology or support for a violent extremism ideology, then that’s not a problem,” Burgess told ABC’s Insiders program on Sunday.
“If they have a support for that ideology, then that will be a problem.”
Hamas, which has governed Gaza since 2007 and organised the October 7 attacks on Israel that led to an estimated 1200 deaths, is a listed terror organisation in Australia.
ASIO conducts security assessments on behalf of the government when assessing potentially risky visa applications.
Burgess’ comments echoed those of former ASIO boss Dennis Richardson, who told this masthead that Palestinian refugees who support Hamas should not be automatically excluded from Australia.
