<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/coalition" rel="" target="_blank" title="Coalition "><span>Coalition </span></a><span>is pushing a new criminal offence to punish those who help terrorist groups as it steps up its attack on the government over the potential return of Australians linked to Islamic State.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The plan comes as federal politicians debate the proposed return from Syria of 11 women - known as the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/isis-bride-banned-from-returning-minister-confirms-passports/89c77960-817b-4759-b7aa-6a7c1b2ff32c" rel="" target="_blank" title='"ISIS brides" '><span>"ISIS brides" </span></a><span>- and 23 children linked to the terrorist group.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Coalition leader Angus Taylor told </span><em><span>Today </span></em><span>this morning anyone helping them to return "through the back door" would be a breach of the law, under the proposal.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/maralago-shooting-us-secret-service-shoots-man-at-donald-trumps-florida-residence/46f8705e-f4dd-4894-979f-de682908e330" target="_blank"><strong><span>Gunman shot dead at Trump's Florida home of Mar-a-Lago identified as missing 21-year-old</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We need to make sure that Australians are protected against those who are associated with terrorist organisations or those who have been to terrorist zones, and there must be consequences for anyone who assists them to come back to Australia," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has said under the law, the group of 34 women and children in Syria have been issued with passports, but insisted the government is not helping them.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Taylor when pressed today about the critieria for a potential prosecution, said it would revolve around some one who visited a "designated hot spot" for terrorism, or supported a terrorist group, such as Islamic State.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/coalition-pushes-to-criminalise-help-for-isis-brides/973d61c5-4557-485d-be8d-e5aba8991a61" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Liberal Party leader said he would support the Albanese government extending the law to criminalise people who help terrorists or there associates.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It is already illegal for someone to visit a terrorist hotspot or to support a terrorist organisation," said Taylor.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/cost-of-living-how-queensland-couple-sandra-and-peter-rielly-keep-their-expenses-to-under-15-000-dollars-a-year/6952ee63-af6d-4f59-9cbf-63e79e78e8e0" target="_blank"><strong><span>How Queensland couple Sandra and Peter keep their expenses to under $15,000 a year</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"And this would extend to anyone who wanted to bring those people back to Australia through the back door. That would also be a crime."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He said his planned new law would allow for some exemptions.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Former Islamic State fighters from multiple countries, their wives and children have been detained in camps since the militant group lost control of its territory in Syria in 2019. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Though defeated, the group still has sleeper cells that carry out deadly attacks in both Syria and Iraq.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Australian governments have repatriated Australian women and children from Syrian detention camps on two occasions. Other Australians have also returned without government assistance.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><span>- Reported with Associated Press</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><strong><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>ticking this box here</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Sign up to</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></em></strong></a></li></ul></div></div>