Five Melbourne men who allegedly wanted to use a small fishing boat to reach Indonesia and join Islamic State in Syria have been charged with terrorism-related offences.
The men, including Islamic preacher Musa Cerantonio, were arrested near Cairns on Tuesday towing a seven-metre fishing boat en route to Cape York in far North Queensland.
Police today said they'd been charged with one count each of making preparations for incursions into foreign countries to engage in hostile activities and could face life in prison if convicted.
The five, aged between 21 and 31 and who remain in custody, are due to appear in Cairns Magistrates' Court tomorrow.
Australian Federal Police assistant commissioner Neil Gaughan said after their arrest they had been under investigation for a "number of weeks" and were "obviously very committed".
