Senator Brandis says Australian fighters returning from Syria could be radicalised and obtain new skills, including those needed to carry out an attack on Australian soil.
"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."
Senator Brandis made the remarks at the inaugural Interpol Global Security and Counter Terrorism Convention in Sydney today.
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.
Also attending the conference is Australian Federal Police Commissioner Tony Negus who says stopping Australians leaving to Syria is a priority.
"We are very pro-actively looking to stop people leaving," he said.
"It is very difficult to obtain evidence from places like Syria to prosecute cases but in saying that, we're doing our best to make sure we collect the material here and they can be put before Australian courts...To fight for either side they commit criminal offences in this country."
Around 100 Australians are thought to be engaged in the fighting in Syria.
Commissioner Tony Negus has revealed that a number of would-be fighters from Australia have had their passports cancelled.
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