Head of ASIO shuts down Pauline Hanson’s line of questions on refugee-terrorism link

Australia's intelligence chief says there is no link between refugees and terrorism in Australia.

ASIO boss Duncan Lewis was quizzed on the issue by One Nation leader Pauline Hanson at a parliamentary committee on Thursday night.

"I have absolutely no evidence to suggest there is a connection between refugees and terrorism," Mr Lewis said.

Asked whether refugee children were being radicalised in Australia, he said: "I see no evidence of it here."

Mr Lewis told Senator Hanson ASIO did not make its enquiries or assessments on the basis of anyone's religion.

"We are not interested in religion - we are interested in whether an individual is exhibiting or expressing violence."

Asked whether women wearing burqas presented a security threat, he said: "We have no security reason to be concerned about the wearing of a burqa other than the requirement for individuals to identify themselves to authorities."

He said not all thwarted terrorism plots had involved Islamist extremists - one recent investigation uncovered a right-wing extremist planning an attack.

Senator Hanson campaigned at the last election on banning Muslim refugees and shutting down mosques.