Taylor criticises government over convicted terrorist’s release from prison

Opposition Leader Angus Taylor criticised the Australian government after convicted terrorist Isaac El Matari was released from prison, arguing that restrictions imposed on him do not go far enough. The government says it did not seek to keep him detained because it could not meet the legal threshold for a court order; the dispute centres on how authorities should manage the risk after his sentence.

El Matari was due for release on Sunday after serving a sentence of seven years and four months for preparing a terrorist act and planning to travel overseas for hostile activity. The AFP obtained an interim control order restricting him, while a Continuing Detention Order could have extended his imprisonment by up to five years. El Matari’s 2019 arrest came during an investigation that also brought alleged Bondi attacker Naveed Akram to authorities’ attention; the article says El Matari has been linked to extremist networks, while named people and organisations have denied or rejected alleged connections where stated.