An ABC investigation published in the early hours of 19 February shines a spotlight on the widening use—and potential over-reach—of Australia’s Temporary Exclusion Orders (TEOs). Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke this week confirmed that one of 11 Australian women who attempted to leave Syria’s al-Roj camp has been served with a TEO, preventing her return for up to two years.
TEOs, created in 2019, allow the minister to keep citizens outside Australia if they are deemed a security threat. Legal scholars interviewed by the ABC note that the law places no cap on consecutive orders, meaning the minister could in theory roll them over indefinitely. Constitutional expert Professor Helen Irving argues that such ‘perpetual exclusion’ may breach the High Court’s 2022 ruling that citizenship penalties amount to a punishment only a court can impose.
![Experts warn Temporary Exclusion Orders could bar Australians overseas indefinitely]()
For global-mobility and crisis-management teams, the case is a reminder that Australian passport holders do not enjoy an absolute right of re-entry when national-security concerns are raised. Employers with staff in sensitive regions should verify whether any employee is subject to counter-terror measures before arranging travel or relocations. Immigration advisers also expect tighter scrutiny of passport applications linked to conflict zones, extending processing times.
Organisations seeking guidance on how evolving security measures might affect travel can turn to VisaHQ, whose Australian portal (https://www.visahq.com/australia/) tracks real-time entry rules, visa requirements and passport services. Their specialists help companies and individuals understand compliance obligations and navigate restrictions like TEOs, offering practical support when return plans face uncertainty.
The ABC story comes amid heightened debate about the government’s responsibility to repatriate families of Islamic State fighters. While only one TEO has been issued so far this year, analysts expect more as intelligence agencies reassess Australians still in Syrian camps.
TEOs, created in 2019, allow the minister to keep citizens outside Australia if they are deemed a security threat. Legal scholars interviewed by the ABC note that the law places no cap on consecutive orders, meaning the minister could in theory roll them over indefinitely. Constitutional expert Professor Helen Irving argues that such ‘perpetual exclusion’ may breach the High Court’s 2022 ruling that citizenship penalties amount to a punishment only a court can impose.
For global-mobility and crisis-management teams, the case is a reminder that Australian passport holders do not enjoy an absolute right of re-entry when national-security concerns are raised. Employers with staff in sensitive regions should verify whether any employee is subject to counter-terror measures before arranging travel or relocations. Immigration advisers also expect tighter scrutiny of passport applications linked to conflict zones, extending processing times.
Organisations seeking guidance on how evolving security measures might affect travel can turn to VisaHQ, whose Australian portal (https://www.visahq.com/australia/) tracks real-time entry rules, visa requirements and passport services. Their specialists help companies and individuals understand compliance obligations and navigate restrictions like TEOs, offering practical support when return plans face uncertainty.
The ABC story comes amid heightened debate about the government’s responsibility to repatriate families of Islamic State fighters. While only one TEO has been issued so far this year, analysts expect more as intelligence agencies reassess Australians still in Syrian camps.
