Officials reported Saturday that an increasing number of Australian women are travelling to Iraq and Syria to fight with the Islamic State (IS).
Attorney General George Brandis said the administration's concern has shifted under the growing IS recruits.
"At an earlier time, perhaps even six months ago, we were concerned almost entirely about young men," Brandis said, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).
"But a more recent estimate by the national security agencies suggests that a growing number of young women are travelling to participate in that fighting as well."
ABC reported that 90 Australians have joined IS this year, compared to 70 last year, and Brandis said the expats don't know what they are getting themselves into.
"[They are] enticed and ensnared here in Australia with the false glamour of participating in the civil war on behalf of ISIL, or Daesh," he explained. "The Australian people should be aware that this is a real and growing problem."
Brandis also addressed the problem in December, when he reported that 20 Australians were killed in the Iraqi conflict last year. The senator accused IS of using foreign fighters as "cannon fodder" and "propaganda tools."
Australia's capital recently passed legislation outlawing travel to countries considered terrorist hotspots. Violation of the law is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
An estimated 1,000 foreigners are entering Syria each month to fight against IS. The makeshift soldiers are poorly equipped, however, and receive no training.
The State Department strongly discourages Americans from entering foreign armies, although it is not a crime.
