Children may face terror charges: Dutton

Immigration Minister Peter Dutton has warned that some children could be prosecuted for terrorism offences overseas.

But it's unlikely the five children of Islamic State fighter Khaled Sharrouf, who are said to be keen to return to Australia with their mother from Syria, are old enough to be prosecuted.

Mr Dutton, "talking generically", said that if children were old enough to be charged with a criminal offence in Australia, then they could be charged with overseas terrorism offences.

They would "face the Australian law like any other child, teenager would", he told Radio 2GB on Thursday.

Mr Dutton said the Sharrouf children may never lead a normal life again, but it seemed they were of an age that made prosecution unlikely.

"The reality is these parents have destroyed the lives of these kids," he said.