Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce is confident authorities have the measure of foreign fighters who have returned to Australia from war zones in the Middle East.
More than 40 foreign fighters have come back to Australia in the past five years, but only two have been prosecuted, according to the Australian Strategic Policy Institute.
"I can give you the absolute assurity that we're monitoring people and it's costing us a fair bit to monitor to them, but we monitor because that's how we keep our nation safe," Mr Joyce told ABC radio on Monday.
The Nationals leader considers ordinary Australians an important part of surveillance efforts.
"The Australian people love the freedom we have in this nation and they are brilliant at keeping an eye on ratbags," he said.
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