(Transcript from World News Australia Radio)
He says the growing trend of Australians going to fight in Syria poses a significant threat to Australia.
Mr Brandis was speaking at the opening of the inaugural Interpol convention on global security and counterterrorism, which is being held in Sydney.
Brian Thomson reports.
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More than 200 delegates from 60 countries are in Sydney for the convention.
They are sharing information and experiences on advances in bomb technology, cyber-terrorism and the threat posed by lone terrorists.
Opening the event, Attorney General George Brandis warned that those returning from the conflict in Syria pose a potentially significant risk.
"Those who actively participate in combat or assist in the planning or facilitation of such activity can become radicalised and obtain new skills, including the ability to conduct an attack on Australian soil, radicalise others and impart knowledge and skills gained offshore."
Around 100 Australians are thought to be engaged in the fighting in Syria.
In his remarks, Australian Federal Police Commissioner Tony Negus has revealed that a number of would-be fighters from Australia have had their passports cancelled.
He says anyone attempting to facilitate the travel of would-be fighters will soon find themselves under arrest.
"As you can appreciate we certainly wouldn't be talking about specifics but there are a range of investigations we have underway into others who are looking to facilitate people to go into those conflict zones and they're at various stages of progression but yes, there are other investigations underway and we continue to work very hard to ensure those people are brought to justice."
Senator Brandis the opened the convention by rejecting the previous government's assessment that the terror threat to Australia has eased.
He says it hasn't.
"None of the intelligence that we are seeing suggests that the threat of terrorism is diminished and I think one of the many reasons why this very large number of senior officials is meeting in Sydney over these few days is because there is an acknowledgement that the need to counter terrorism remains, at both a national and international level, one of the most important priorities of law enforcement."
