Terrorist support condemned after Hezbollah flags waved

Protesters who waved Hezbollah flags may not reach the threshold for criminal prosecution but those on visas are being warned they could be kicked out of Australia.

Some people at weekend rallies brandished the designated terrorist organisation's symbols at protests decrying Israel's bombing of Lebanon and the killing of leader Hassan Nasrallah.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has "unequivocally condemned" any indication of support for a terrorist group.

People on a visa faced "a higher level of scrutiny", the minister said on Monday.

"I have made clear from day one, that I will consider refusing and cancelling visas for anyone who seeks to incite discord in Australia," he said.

The symbols and even an indication of support foment fear and division in Australia, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said.

The Australian Federal Police said it was aware protests and political demonstrations would be used to amplify extremist messaging but simply displaying prohibited symbols doesn't reach the Commonwealth law threshold.

The symbol needed to be used in actions that spread ideas of racial superiority or hatred or were likely to offend, insult or intimidate a person for reasons such as their race, religion or nationality.

"The criminal code set outs very specific elements that must be met in order to charge an individual with a terrorism offence," an AFP spokesperson told AAP.

Officers had the power to direct people to take down the symbols but couldn't remove them by force, although those who failed to comply faced fines, the AFP said.

Some states and territories also have hate symbol laws.

The Commonwealth laws were put in place to criminalise glorifying and praising acts of terrorism and there was no justification for anyone supporting Hamas or Hezbollah, a spokeswoman for the attorney-general told AAP.

"Iconography can be used to promote hateful ideologies and intimidate our community," she added.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton called for the home affairs minister to throw the book at anyone who supported Hezbollah.

"They have no place in our country," he told Brisbane radio station 4BC on Monday.

Parliament should be recalled to urgently pass legislation criminalising the glorification of a terrorist leader if current laws weren't strong enough to prosecute the action under, he said.

The protests in Australia come amid growing fears the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon could spark a greater regional war as tensions boil and missile attacks escalate.

Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah have been trading fire across the southern Lebanese border for months before Israel upped the ante in recent weeks, launching thousands of missiles that killed hundreds of people in Lebanon.

The Israel Defence Forces say it targeted the organisation's members and weapon stocks as residential apartments were levelled and dozens of children were among the casualties.

It's prompted Australia to join calls for a temporary ceasefire and de-escalation as Iran and Hezbollah threaten further retaliation.

Nasrallah's death wouldn't be mourned but the focus needed to remain on civilian deaths, Treasurer Jim Chalmers said.

"We need a ceasefire so that the senseless killing of families stop," he told ABC radio.

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