[Greens-Media] Greens on first 'declared zone'

[Forsyth, Danielle (Sen P. Wright)]

Statement from Senator Penny Wright, Greens spokesperson on Legal Affairs, on the listing of a Syrian province as a 'declared area' under the new Foreign Fighters laws:

"This is the first declaration under draconian new laws that could catch innocent Australians travelling overseas.

"It criminalises perfectly legitimate travel and has the same effect as reversing the onus of proof.

"Anyone who travels to the Al Raqqa province, even under the listed exemptions, will have a very real legal challenge of proving that they went there for one sole purpose.

"This declaration - and this whole section of the Foreign Fighters laws - is unnecessary because it is already a crime to engage in a conflict overseas."

Media contact: Danielle Forsyth - 0417 173 508