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WITH more than 100 different faiths and over 300 languages, Australia is one of the world’s most culturally and linguistically diverse nations. Promoting social cohesion is a big challenge for it, but Australia has enjoyed a peaceful history, relatively free from violent extremism. Still, the threat of VE is not non-existent, and it threatens Australia’s core values of respect for human rights, the rule of law, democracy, equal opportunity, and freedom.
In Australia, VE refers to the beliefs and actions of individuals who use violence or support the use of violence to achieve ideological, religious, or political goals. It includes terrorism and other forms of politically motivated and communal violence that seek to bring about change through fear and intimidation.
Radicalisation is a complex process that involves a person’s beliefs shifting from relatively conventional to radical, with a desire for a drastic societal change. According to the Australian belief, when a person radicalises, the community and government are responsible for acting and intervening to prevent harm to both the person and wider society.
In Australia, new migrants with low income and high unemployment rates are often vulnerable to extremist narratives. New migrants for whom English is a second language are uncertain about navigating systems in a new country and may feel isolated. Those with low education levels also have low awareness of their rights and may feel voiceless, marginalised, and susceptible to VE. Feelings of helplessness may drive them to amplify their voices online, further exposing them to extremist influences. This is why reducing access to extremist material and empowering communities to combat terrorist narratives are among Australia’s priorities.
After 9/11, Australia enacted various laws to prevent acts of VE.
After 9/11, Australia enacted various laws to prevent acts of VE. In the past, the Australian authorities had to wait until a terrorist attack was imminent or underway before they could intervene. The updated Australian legal framework allows them to disrupt acts of VE while they are still being planned.
The Australian approach to CVE (countering violent extremism) comprises robust security, strong law enforcement, effective community engagement, and extensive partnerships. Australia invests considerable resources in community engagement and building social harmony. Key areas of focus include supporting individuals’ participation in education, improving social and economic participation, increasing community harmony, preventing crime, and building effective families and community organisations.
Australia’s recipe for CVE is based on the belief that unity of effort works, partnerships matter, and teamwork makes everything possible. Australia’s approach acknowledges that the threat is persistent and dynamic; hence, it never remains static. Since the world is rapidly changing, threats are also continuously evolving. The causes of VE can be better understood, mitigated, and reduced through collaborative partnerships. Australia also recognises the engagement of the private sector and civil society as essential. That’s why, to counter VE, Australia has worked collaboratively and quietly at the global, regional, and bilateral levels.
In the 2002 Bali bombings, 202 people, including 88 Australians, were killed, representing the single most significant loss of Australian life due to terrorism. Afterwards, Australia started a CVE collaboration with Indonesia and other countries. Australia is also part of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, which was formed in 2014.
The Australian strategy includes six principles: lives must be protected; the government and the community must tackle terrorism together; terrorist acts should be prosecuted through the criminal justice system; international partnerships should be built; community and national resilience should be strengthened; and Australia’s counterterrorism (CT) arrangements should reflect the changing threat environment. Its approach is based on four complementary streams of activity, which seek to build strength in diversity and social participation, work with vulnerable communities and institutions, address online terrorist propaganda, and support deradicalisation.
Since 2003, the appointment of an ambassador for CT to deal with terrorism-related issues speaks of Australia’s commitment to CT. This ambassador coordinates Australia’s international CT efforts by building international linkages, leading diplomatic efforts in the domain of CT with partner countries, and facilitating Australia in benefiting from global best practices. Pakistan must evaluate the need for such a diplomatic position, which may benefit it and friendly countries equally.
The writer is the author of Pakistan: In Between Extremism and Peace.
Published in Dawn, August 13th, 2024
