Terrorism in Australia deals with terrorist activities in Australia as well as steps taken by the Australian government to counter the threat of terrorism. In 2004 the Australian government has identified transnational terrorism as a threat to Australia and to Australian citizens overseas. Chap. 2 – ( PDF version 1.7 Mb) Australia has experienced acts of modern terrorism since the 1960s, while the federal parliament, since the 1970s, has enacted legislation seeking to target terrorism.
Terrorism is defined as "an action or threat of action where the action causes certain defined forms of harm or interference and the action is done or the threat is made with the intention of advancing a political, religious and ideological or group cause".
The 2020s have seen a notable resurgence in terrorism in Australia. The current Australian National Terrorism Threat Level is set to probable. In 2024, the Australian government accused the government of Iran of state sponsored terrorism, for allegedly organising two arson attacks in Melbourne, against a kosher restaurant and a synagogue. On 14 December 2025, two gunmen motivated by the Islamic State committed a mass shooting at Bondi Beach, killing 15 people at a Hanukkah celebration. This terrorist attack specifically motivated the National Cabinet to agree on further gun restrictions in Australia.
Background
Multiple ideologies promote terrorism in Australia including religions extremists, far-right racially motivated groups, and Incels. The current main terrorism threats within Australia are far-right terrorism and the self-described Islamic State movement (also known as ISIL or ISIS). Various right wing extremist groups have posed tangible terrorism threats in Australia over several decades. The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) in the 1970s monitored Safari 8, the Legion of the Frontiersmen of the Commonwealth and the Australian Youth Coalition as terrorist threats, and from the 1980s through to the early 2000s sporadic terrorist activities were undertaken by National Action and the Australian Nationalist Movement. The deadliest terror attacks involving Australians have been overseas. The greatest number of Australian victims occurred in the 2002 Bali bombings, targeting Australian tourists in Indonesia. The deadliest terror attack ever committed by an Australian was far right, the Christchurch mosque massacre that killed 51 people in New Zealand in 2019. A number of incidents relating to the Islamic State group have involved Australians.
Researcher Kristy Campion argues that the far-right in Australia is itself diverse and that government must not rely on stereotypes. Campion argues for a three type model. 1) ethnocentric types who attack others based culture, race or religion; 2) anti-government types who attack government institutions and officials; 3) religious extremists.
Notable terrorist attacks in Australia
Year Number of...National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism. (2016). Global Terrorism Database (globalterrorismdb_0616dist.xlsx ). Retrieved from https://www.start.umd.edu/gtd University of MarylandNational Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism. (2016). Global Terrorism Database (gtd1993_0616dist.xlsx ). Retrieved from https://www.start.umd.edu/gtd University of Maryland Incidents Deaths Injuries202610020251164020241012022161202100020201202019000201821320172262016901201572020148472013100201200020110002010100200910020083002007000200620020050002004000200300020020002001200200010019990001998602199740231996521199550019949381993000199241419914001990000198920019883001987000198622221985000198400019830001982203198111019806231979209197822919770001976000197500019741001973000197221019711001970100
Terrorists attacks have occurred in Australia over the country's history, including the following notable incidents.
Soviet Embassy bombing (1971) The Embassy of the USSR was attacked by a crude bomb on 17 January 1971 in Canberra.Crude bomb blasts Soviet Embassy Canberra Times 18 January 1971
Sydney Yugoslav General Trade and Tourist Agency bombing (1972)
The Sydney Yugoslav General Trade and Tourist Agency bombing occurred in Haymarket, Sydney on 16 September 1972; the attack injured sixteen people. The perpetrators of the attack were believed to be Croatian separatists.
Sydney Hilton Hotel bombing (1978)
The Sydney Hilton Hotel bombing occurred on 13 February 1978; a bomb exploded outside the Hilton Hotel in George Street, Sydney, which was hosting the first Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. Two garbage collectors and a police officer were killed and nine others were injured.
Family Court of Australia attacks (1980–1985)
On 23 June 1980, David Opas, a judge of the Family Court, was shot dead outside his home in Woollahra. In March 1984, a bomb destroyed the Belrose home of fellow judge Richard Gee, who survived. In April, a bomb exploded in the Family Court building in Parramatta. In July, the wife of judge Ray Watson was killed when a bomb exploded on their doorstep in Greenwich. In July 1985 a bombing at a Jehovah's Witness hall in Casula killed the minister, Graham Wykes and injured 13 others. (1992) 8 Australian Journal of Law & Society 1.
On 29 July 2015, 68-year-old Leonard John Warwick was arrested at Campbelltown, New South Wales. He was charged with 32 offences, including four counts of murder, one of attempted murder, and 13 counts of burning or maiming with an explosive substance. On 3 September 2020, Warwick was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. He died in prison on 14 February 2025.
Iwasaki resort bombing (1980) At 2am on 29 November 1980, the day of the Queensland State election, a nitropril and fuel oil bomb was detonated with gelignite at the Iwasaki resort construction site north of Yeppoon. The blast created a seven-metre-wide crater in a block of holiday units under construction. Premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen and MP Ben Humphreys labelled the incident a terrorist attack, and a caller to Rockhampton's The Morning Bulletin newspaper claimed responsibility on behalf of the "Queensland Republican Army". The media saw the motivation behind the attack as increasing resentment over Japanese land ownership in Queensland, while Petersen claimed that it was a racist attack. Two men, Eric John Geissman and Kerry Geissman, were committed to trial on 15 May 1981. Both were found not guilty after questions were raised regarding police misconduct in the investigation, a common problem in Queensland at the time.
Sydney Turkish Consul General assassination (1980) On 17 December 1980, Sydney Turkish Consul General Şarık Arıyak and his security attaché Engin Sever were assassinated by two people on motorcycles wielding firearms in Sydney. The Justice Commandos of the Armenian Genocide claimed responsibility but the culprits were never identified and no charges were laid. The Consul General was gunned down despite having taken precautions in the form of not travelling in the official consulate Mercedes Benz vehicle and instead being chauffeured in the trailing security attaché's car.Global Terrorism Database; Michael M. Gunter, p. 69. In December 2019, it was announced that New South Wales Joint Counter Terrorism Team had established Strike Force Esslemont to re-investigate the murders. The reward, for information that leads to an arrest and conviction, was increased from to A$1 million. This was the first ever million-dollar reward offered in Australia for an act of terrorism.
In August 2020 police Marine Area Command divers searched Greenwich Point in relation to the assassination.
Jack van Tongeren and the ANM (1980s, 2004)
Throughout the 1980s, the Western Australian neo-Nazi group "The Australian Nationalist Movement", led by Jack van Tongeren, engaged in a series of bombings of Asian restaurants and businesses, political violence, murder of a suspected informant and other acts to intimidate the Asian population. Van Tongeren was eventually imprisoned for a long period of time until his release in the early to mid-2000s. He resumed his activities until he was re-arrested in 2004 as part of Operation Atlantic, prompting a judge to order him to leave the state."Supremacist leader in court" theage.com.au. AAP. 7 August 2004. Retrieved 10 March 2015
In February 2004 three Chinese restaurants in Perth were firebombed in the early hours of the morning. The police also identified a plot to harm Jim McGinty and his family, two police officers and an ethnic community leader, and raided Van Tongeren's home. After two separate man-hunts, the second after van Tongeren skipped bail, Van Tongeren was found and arrested in the Boddington area south-east of Perth. Van Tongeren was found guilty of planning to bomb Chinese restaurants in Perth and of organising a destructive hate campaign in 2007, but was given a 2-year suspended sentence on account of ill health. His right-hand man, John Van Blitterswyk, was given a 2-year, 4-month sentence.
1981 alleged Croatian nationalist bombings in Sydney
Israeli consulate and Hakoah Club bombing (1982) The bombing of the Israeli Consulate and Hakoah Club in Sydney occurred on 23 December 1982. The two bombings occurred on the same day within five hours of each other. The initial case led to a single arrest though charges were later dropped. In 2011, the NSW police and Australian federal police reopened the case citing new leads."1982 HAKOAH CLUB AND ISRAELI CONSULATE BOMBINGS HAVE BEEN REOPENED." JewishNews.net.au. 29 August 2012.Mercer, Neil. "Police have new lead in Hakoah Club bombing." The Sydney Morning Herald. 12 September 2012."Hakoah bombing mystery re-opens." News.com.au 25 August 2012."Police reopen 1982 Sydney bombings case." ABC News. Sunday 26 August 2012.
Turkish consulate bombing (1986) The Melbourne Turkish consulate bombing occurred on 23 November 1986; a car bomb exploded in a carpark beneath the Turkish Consulate in South Yarra, Melbourne, killing the bomber who failed to correctly set up the explosive device. Levon Demirian, a Sydney resident with links to the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, was charged over the attack and served 10 years.Greek Bulgarian armenian Front MIPT
Attempted assassination of Eddie Funde (1989) In 1989, two Skinhead youths, inspired by the Australian-based neo-Nazi National Action group, fired shotguns at the home of African National Congress representative Eddie Funde in an assassination attempt. Head of National Action, James Saleam, was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in jail for ordering the assassination. The trial judge described the assassination as "an act of naked political terrorism".
Perth French Consulate bombing (1995) In 1995, terrorists firebombed the French Consulate in Perth.
Abortion clinic attack (2001)
On 16 July 2001, Peter James Knight, described as an "obsessive anti-abortionist" who lived alone in a makeshift camp in rural New South Wales, attacked the East Melbourne Family Planning clinic, a privately run clinic providing abortions, carrying a rifle, and large quantities of kerosene and lighters. He shot and killed a security guard at the clinic before his capture and arrest. He was charged and convicted of murder, and was sentenced to life imprisonment with a non-parole period of 23 years. Australian terrorism academic Clive Williams listed the attack amongst incidents of politically motivated violence in Australia.
Holsworthy Barracks terror plot
Five arrested for an Islamist terrorist plot uncovered in August 2009 targeting Holsworthy Barracks—an Australian Army training area with automatic weapons. Given lengthy prison terms, the judge called them an ongoing threat to society as long as they were unrepentant of their jihadist attitudes. Connected with the Somali-based terrorist group al-Shabaab.
Endeavour Hills stabbings (2014)