Dual nationals fighting with groups such as Islamic State would be taken back by Australia if their citizenship was stripped by another country, even if they were known to be committing acts of terrorism, Immigration Minister Peter Dutton says.
As the federal government prepares to legislate to allow for dual citizens to be stripped of their right to be Australian Mr Dutton has conceded that Australia has a legal obligation to accept back individuals if their citizenship is revoked by another jurisdiction.
"We have a constitutional obligation to provide citizenship to that person," Mr Dutton told Sky News on Wednesday.
"If that person has dual citizenship they will fall back to that citizenship but if they're to be rendered stateless, as I've said clearly, in that situation we're not going to allow that to happen."
The plan to revoke the citizenship of dual nationals, flagged by Prime Minister Tony Abbott in February and further detailed on Monday, would give discretion on making decisions to Mr Dutton.
The Australian legislation is based on similar laws in the UK.
The development comes as Mr Abbott vowed that Tara Nettleton, the wife of notorious IS fighter Khaled Sharrouf, would face the full force of the law if she returned to Australia with the couple's five children.
Mr Dutton would not directly comment on reports Ms Nettleton was attempting to return to Australia with her children, one of whom was photographed holding a severed head.
"If they've been involved in supporting terrorists or involved in activities themselves they will face the full force of the law when they return to Australia," he said.
The children could be placed in state care, he added.
"If they're infants, for example, then they would be in state care as we've seen with some people who have decided to abandon their children and go and fight - abandon their children and fight in the name of ISIL."
Mr Abbott insisted Ms Nettleton would face the full force of the law if she returned from Syria to Australia.
"That's what the Australian public expect. Crime will be punished," Mr Abbott said.
There are no indications Sharrouf wants to return.
Ms Nettleton is suspected of helping to spirit her children to Syria via Malaysia after Sharrouf flew out of Sydney in December 2013 using his brother's passport.
The PM dismissed suggestions the family's return could be used to discourage others taking up the IS cause.
"I'm afraid you don't get off scot-free just because you say `I've seen the error of my ways'," he said.
