The Albanese government is facing criticism from the Coalition for being “late to the party” in announcing it will move to formally list Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organisation.

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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed on Tuesday that Australia’s intelligence services had obtained “credible evidence” linking the IRGC to antisemitic attacks on Australian soil, including the arson attack on Melbourne’s Adass Israel Synagogue. He said Australia would expel Iran’s ambassador, recall its diplomatic staff from Tehran, and legislate to ban the IRGC.

Coalition figures have pointed out they pushed for the IRGC to be listed during the last parliament, but the government resisted at the time.

Australia is under attack from the Islamic Republic of Iran. pic.twitter.com/znooGdaDWU

— David Limbrick MP 🌸 (@_davidlimbrick) August 26, 2025

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, however, insisted the new intelligence fundamentally changed the situation.

“This is an attack on our soil, and it's something which warranted the strongest diplomatic action, which is exactly what we've taken,” Burke said.

Bob Carr should be expelled with Ahmad pic.twitter.com/GfFqhIRhGJ

— Avi Yemini (@OzraeliAvi) August 26, 2025

Burke argued that critics “underestimate the extent to which a new line was crossed”. He said, “I think anyone who pretends that we're in the same situation with what we now know as we were, or as the Australian people were, a week ago, is missing the fundamental difference; that you face when you have an attack on your own soil.”

Just a reminder. Here's a handful of Australia's political leaders at the pro-Hamas rally last month marching with a poster of Iran's "Supreme Leader". pic.twitter.com/q8hjU3xc6a

— ADVANCE (@FairAusADV) August 26, 2025

He added: “Nobody should view this as an attack on a venue or an attack on the Jewish community. This is an attack on Australia, and it needs to be treated that way.”

Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi lashed out at the Australian response, writing online: “I am not in the habit of joining causes with wanted War Criminals, but Netanyahu is right about one thing: Australia's PM is indeed a ‘weak politician’.”

The Australian government has finally moved to list Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organisation — after expelling the regime’s ambassador for allegedly orchestrating two attacks, including the firebombing of a Melbourne synagogue.

Next step: deport their…

— Avi Yemini (@OzraeliAvi) August 26, 2025

Burke rejected any suggestion the actions were tied to Israel or Palestine. “This decision that we have taken is about one thing and about one thing only, and that is the safety and sovereignty of Australia,” he said.