August 22, 2016
Over the past fortnight, two high-profile cases have revealed that Australian money may have inadvertently financed terrorism. Australian Federal Police are investigating whether more than $27 million in Commonwealth childcare benefits and rebates has been fraudulently obtained and sent overseas, possibly to fund terrorism. Those arrested or questioned have links to Dar al Quran wa Sunnah, a Sydney-based Lebanese charity established to raise money for Syrian refugees. This charity is already under investigation by the financial intelligence agency AUSTRAC and the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission for possible terrorism financing.
This case follows the arrest of World Vision’s Gaza manager for allegedly diverting $US7 million a year — about 60 per cent of World Vision’s annual budget in the Palestinian territories — to Hamas. Donations were allegedly used to construct a military base, dig tunnels, pay salaries and buy weapons for Hamas. According to the Israeli intelligence agency Shin Bet, Hamas recruited this manager in 2004 to infiltrate the international aid organisation.