Why Did Australia Designate Terrorgram as a Terrorist Organisation?

Canberra, June 27 (NationPress) The Australian government officially classified Terrorgram, an online nationalist extremist network, as a terrorist organisation on Friday. This decision aligns with similar measures taken by the United Kingdom and the United States against this platform.

“This group promotes an ideology that seeks to make some Australians feel unwelcome in their own land. This extremist hatred has no place in Australia,” stated Australia's Minister for Home Affairs and Cyber Security, Tony Burke.

“The listing empowers Australian police and security agencies, giving them significantly enhanced capabilities to safeguard Australians and curtail extremist activities within our borders. Online radicalisation poses an escalating threat, but the government is equipped with the necessary tools to combat it,” he added.

The Australian government's decision to classify Terrorgram as a terrorist organisation under the Criminal Code Act 1995 came after extensive consultation with national security and intelligence agencies.

“Terrorgram functions as a nationalist and racist violent extremist group utilizing decentralised and encrypted platforms, mainly Telegram. Users of Terrorgram generate and disseminate propaganda aimed at inciting terrorist attacks against minority groups, critical infrastructure, and specific individuals. This group advocates for, and provides guidance on, conducting terrorist attacks and has successfully instigated such actions in the United States, Europe, and Asia,” detailed the government.

The classification of Terrorgram under the Criminal Code complements existing counter-terrorism financing sanctions imposed on the group in February 2025 by the Minister for Foreign Affairs under section 15 of the Charter of the United Nations Act 1945.

“By designating Terrorgram, the Australian Government is taking crucial steps to protect Australians from terrorism and violent extremism. The government will continue to leverage all available resources to mitigate the rise of violent extremism, confront racially motivated violence, and counter hate in all its manifestations.

“Classifying an organisation serves as a significant deterrent to terrorist activities. Under Division 102 of the Criminal Code, it is illegal to be a member of, associate with, recruit for, train with, fund, or provide support to a terrorist organisation. Violations of these laws can result in severe penalties of up to 25 years in prison,” the government announced.

The Australian government urges citizens to contribute valuable information that can help security and law enforcement agencies identify potential threats and prevent their escalation. It continues to collaborate closely with international partners to combat terrorism and violent extremism on a global scale.