Australia’s Coalition Puts National Security at Risk in Bizarre Alliance with One Nation

The Australian Coalition’s decision to partner with One Nation on a bill aimed at banning foreign fighters from returning home is a worrying development. By backing this legislation, the Coalition is sacrificing sound policy-making for short-term political gains.

This alliance has been years in the making, with One Nation’s Pauline Hanson and the Coalition’s Tony Abbott having a long history of cooperation on issues like immigration and border protection. The latest proposal would create a new “foreign terrorist fighter exclusion order,” but its chances of success are slim to none. Constitutional law expert Anne Twomey has pointed out that the bill is likely to face significant legal hurdles and might not even survive a High Court challenge.

The Coalition’s decision raises questions about their commitment to evidence-based policy-making. The previous attempt by the Coalition to legislate similar handbrakes on returning citizens failed miserably, with opposition home affairs spokesman James Paterson acknowledging that a Senate inquiry was necessary to determine the legality of such moves.

This alliance sends a concerning signal about the Coalition’s willingness to compromise on national security issues in order to score political points. The bill may be well-intentioned, but its passage is far from guaranteed, and even if it were to become law, it would likely face challenges in court.

Labor and constitutional experts have significant concerns about the constitutionality of this proposal. Burke recently noted that the bill “would last about 30 seconds in the High Court,” highlighting the difficulties inherent in such legislation.

The lack of engagement with the underlying issues driving the need for such legislation is striking. Australian citizens have been radicalized and are seeking to return home, posing a genuine threat to national security. Rather than tackling these complex social and economic factors head-on, the Coalition and One Nation seem more interested in scoring cheap political points.

This alliance is not without precedent. In 2019, the Coalition attempted to pass similar legislation, which was met with resistance from Labor and ultimately failed. It seems that some lessons have been learned, but perhaps not enough.

The Coalition’s decision to partner with One Nation on this bill raises more questions than answers about their commitment to national security and evidence-based policy-making. The potential risks of such an alliance are significant, and it remains to be seen whether the legislation will survive its inevitable court challenges. Australian citizens must remain vigilant and demand that their leaders prioritize sound policy-making over short-term political gains.

The coming months will be crucial in determining the fate of this bill, as well as the Coalition’s willingness to engage with the underlying issues driving radicalization among some Australian citizens. Will they continue to put politics above national security, or will they finally take a more nuanced approach?