Melbourne would-be foreign fighter charged

A Melbourne man will face court on terrorism-related charges after allegedly trying to join the fight against Islamic State in Iraq.

The 28-year-old was stopped by Customs at Melbourne airport in December 2014 and identified as a potential foreign fighter for Kurdish-aligned forces.

Various items of military-style equipment and clothing were found in his luggage, the Immigration Department and the Australian Federal Police said in a statement.

The Epping man has been charged with foreign fighter-related offences, with a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

He was arrested on Monday night and is expected to appear in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

The Australian Federal Police said it didn't matter which side of the Middle East conflict Australians sought to fight for, their involvement was still illegal.

"While this individual did not actually travel, people need to be aware that actively planning and undertaking preparations to travel to the conflict area still constitutes a criminal offence," Assistant Commissioner Neil Gaughan said.

Attorney-General George Brandis would not comment on the matter since it was before the court.

But he reminded the public it's been a crime since 1979 to travel to fight in a foreign civil war.

"It's also perilous for them, and any Australian contemplating doing that should not do it," he told reporters in Canberra.