Australia's tough new terror laws to be tested on dual national terrorist

CANBERRA - An Australian man detained for fighting with Islamic State (IS) is set to be the first dual national to have his Australian passport canceled under tough new terror laws.

A senior national security source confirmed to News Corp that the laws are set to be used for the first time on a well-known, dual national terrorist in the coming months. Under the laws - which passed in December - dual national citizens are stripped of their Australian passports if found guilty of serious terrorism-related offences.

The federal government is reportedly expecting a High Court challenge as soon as the trial is officially authorized, but Treasurer Scott Morrison said the laws were introduced in Australia's best interest.

"They're dual citizens as well, so it's not like they're left stateless under these laws. By their own actions they'd be disqualifying themselves to the values of Australia," Morrison told Macquarie radio on Monday.

"I'm very proud we put these laws in place it's a signal that citizenship matters, and obligations attach to (citizenship), not just rights. Those obligations include holding to our values."

Meanwhile Professor Peter Leahy, former army chief and the director at the national security institute at the University of Canberra, said it was important for the government to set a precedent for other would-be terrorists.

"Rip the passport off him," Leahy told Sky News on Monday, "Leave him with whatever other passport he's got. But rip the Australian passport off him. He doesn't deserve it."

"He's been in the field of battle fighting Australians and we can't accept that. And as an ex-army officer I can't accept that, so rip the passport off him."

The case is yet to have been formally announced, but a source told News Corp the dual national terrorist will be tried before the end of the year.