The number of Australians fighting with extremist groups in Syria and Iraq remains about 70, despite estimates that at least 20 have died in the conflict, a Senate committee has been told.
It has also heard more than 100 others in Australia are providing active support through funding and recruiting, with many of them also wanting to go to the Middle East.
There is also likely to be people in the community providing support who have yet to be detected by Australia's domestic spy agency, ASIO.
Its deputy director, Kerri Hartland, told a Senate estimates hearing on Thursday the consistent number of Australians fighting in Syria and Iraq in recent months was because the number of new arrivals was roughly keeping pace with the rate of fatalities.
Ms Hartland said ASIO's interest was largely focused on groups of most concern, such as ISIL (Islamic State).
She said ASIO had recommended the cancellation of 100 Australian passports since 2010 - half in this year alone.
ASIO had real concerns about fighters returning to Australia with connections to extremist networks and equipped to conduct terrorist attacks.
Previously, ASIO assessed such attacks would likely take the form of a car bombing, requiring a long lead time for preparation.
"We now assess a simple random attack on a street on any Australian using rudimentary weapons is more likely," Ms Hartland said.
Such an attack would provide the terrorists with "great propaganda mileage".
ASIO's experience of those who trained with al-Qaeda and similar groups in Afghanistan and Pakistan demonstrated the need to consider those involved in Syria and Iraq as a serious long-term problem, Ms Hartland said.
Of the 30 Australians who trained or fought in Afghanistan and Pakistan between 1990 and 2010, 25 returned to Australia.
Of those, 19 engaged in activities of security concern and eight were convicted of terrorist offences. Five remain in jail.
In some cases, their behaviour did not emerge until five years after return.
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