Prime Minister Tony Abbott says the government is powerless to ban organisations deemed to be promoting terror but hopes to pass new laws that would criminalise such activity before the end of the year.
In an interview on 2GB Radio this morning, host Alan Jones asked Mr Abbott whether he was concerned that Islamic group Hizbut-Tahrir was giving a public lecture in Lakemba, in Sydney's west, this Friday.
Mr Abbott said be objected to the group, which "campaigns against Australian values," but under existing law the government was powerless to ban it.
"At the moment we can only ban organisations that engage in terrorism," he said. "Under the law that we are bringing through the Parliament, hopefully before the end of the year, it will be an offence to promote terrorism."
"I am sorry we have not red-carded these hate preachers before now but it will happen."
In a statement to SBS, media representative of Hizb ut-Tahrir, Uthman Badar, said the government's plan came as no surprise.
"We have long exposed government attempts to silence dissent against its unjust and brutal foreign policies and here we now see moves to legalise this silencing of dissent," he said.
"Banning non-violent political parties will only prove that the political leadership is unable to make its case through debate and argument."
Mr Badar said Friday's event posed no threat.
"Our event this Friday seeks to elucidate the reality of US foreign policy with regards Syria and the Syrian uprising," he said.
"The speakers, who have not even been announced, are all local. There are no 'top draw' or international speakers.
"Evidently, the prime minister is not interested in facts when seeking to silence political dissent or whip up Islamophobic hysteria."
Australia's involvement in Iraq
When asked about the nature of Australia’s role in the US-led mission against Iraq, Mr Abbott fell short of ruling out a ground campaign.
"We’ve got an absolutely crystal clear mission to disrupt and degrade ISIL inside Iraq," he said.
"We've got a very clear way to do this, by flying combat air patrols over Iraq – which we’re doing – and by advising and assisting.
"Let’s put that mission into practice… Let’s see how it goes."
In the last few weeks, the government has introduced a series of counter-terrorism laws to Parliament
The laws address Australians travelling overseas to fight in conflicts and also give authorities extra powers to investigate, arrest and prosecute.
