UNSC sanctions against terrorist fighters, recruiters and financers

I welcome the listing by the United Nations Security Council's Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee of 16 individuals and entities known to be associated with ISIL, and other Al-Qaida linked terrorist organisations.

The Security Council Committee – chaired by Australia – has listed these individuals and entities as part of a broader strategy to starve ISIL and its ilk of resources and funding.

Sanctioning these individuals and entities will also help countriesdisrupt the networks that recruit the foreign fighters these groups relyupon. Listing these individuals is a means to stop the terrorists' travel and access to funds, support or weapons.

The designation has immediate effect in Australia. It is a serious criminal offence punishable by up to 10 years in prison, to use or deal with the assets owned or controlled by ISIL, Al-Nusrah and associated individuals or to make funds or assets available to them. Any assets identified as owned or controlled by ISIL, Al-Nusrah and associated individuals must be frozen and details of those assets immediately notified to the Australian Federal Police.

The terrorist actions of ISIL, Al-Nusrah and associated Al-Qaida-linked entities are an affront to our shared humanity. Everything must be done to constrain the ability of such groups to obtain the arms, funds, recruits and other material support to carry out terrorist acts. United Nations Security Council sanctions areone of the critical tools we can use to do this.