Former New South Wales Police Minister David Elliot said he supports using tax dollars to fund the lifelong imprisonment of a convicted terrorist.

The statement highlights the ongoing debate regarding the cost of high-security incarceration for terrorism convicts and the strategic necessity of preventing their release.

Speaking during an interview on Sky News Australia in Sydney, Elliot addressed the funding of a super-maximum security stay for the individual known as "Doctor Jihad" [1]. The interview took place on Sept. 11, 2024, marking the 25th anniversary [2] of the 9/11 attacks.

"I don’t like paying tax, but I’d be happy for it to go towards Doctor Jihad’s lifelong stay in super‑max," Elliot said [3].

Elliot said the expenditure is justified based on the strategic response required to combat terrorism following the events of 9/11. He noted that Australia maintains international obligations to return its citizens, which complicates the long-term management of such prisoners [1].

By advocating for a lifelong sentence in a super-maximum facility, Elliot emphasized the need for permanent removal of high-risk individuals from society. He said the security of the public outweighs the financial burden placed on the taxpayer [1].

The discussion occurred as Australia reflected on the quarter century [2] since the September 11 attacks, a period that redefined global security protocols and the legal frameworks used to detain terrorists [1].

“"I don’t like paying tax, but I’d be happy for it to go towards Doctor Jihad’s lifelong stay in super‑max."”

This position reflects a 'hardline' approach to counter-terrorism, prioritizing absolute incapacitation over the cost-efficiency of the penal system. By linking the funding to the anniversary of 9/11, the argument frames the expense not as a budgetary burden, but as a necessary investment in national security and the fulfillment of international legal obligations.