Two teenage brothers intercepted by Customs officials en route to Middle East conflict zones are "kids, not killers", Immigration Minister Peter Dutton says.
The 16 and 17-year-olds were stopped by authorities at Sydney Airport on Friday in possession of return tickets to an undisclosed location in the Middle East.
A search of their luggage raised further suspicions of their intent.
Customs officers determined that they were intending to travel without the knowledge of their parents.
Mr Dutton said the boys were stopped on their way to a potentially very dangerous situation, and their parents were "shocked" to learn of their plans.
"These two young men, aged 16 and 17, are kids, not killers," he said.
"They shouldn't be allowed to go to a foreign land to fight and to come back to our shores eventually more radicalised.
"In some cases, these young people who are going off to fight in areas like Syria will be killed themselves, and that's a tragedy for their families, for their communities, and for our country.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott thanked the border protection officers for doing their job, saying the boys had been prevented from doing something "very dangerous"."We have to be absolutely determined to stare down this ever increasing threat."
He said there were about 400 people in Australia that security agencies were currently monitoring.
"We know that there are other people who might be tempted to do silly things, and these are two youngsters who ... suddenly got it into their head to go and do something that is very dangerous for them and potentially very dangerous for others," he said.
"I'm pleased to say that the new enhanced screening procedures at our airports, and the anti-terrorist teams that we've now got at our airports, appear to have done a very good job.
"What we don't want is people coming into this country with evil intentions, and we don't want people leaving this country with evil intentions."
The brothers were later allowed the leave the airport with their parents, who were unaware of their plans, and were issued court attendance notices.
Internet propaganda heightens risk of radicalisation: Dutton
Mr Dutton said information young people could access on the internet meant they could be more inclined to travel to conflict zones.
"[And] most importantly for our country, when they return, they return more radicalised, and [are] a greater threat to the Australian public."Traditionally, parents of teenage children had to worry about alcohol, drugs, and driving and now there is an added threat of the information being delivered to them over internet, particularly if they're inclined to go and fight in a foreign land," he said.
"We have to be absolutely determined to stare down this ever increasing threat."
The Foreign Fighters Bill passed by Parliament last October makes it illegal to travel to areas declared as terrorist zones, without a specific humanitarian or family purpose.
Under the bill, Customs officers are allowed to detain people at the airport if they believe they may be travelling to one of the prohibited areas.
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has listed both the province of Al-Raqqa in Syria and Mosul in Iraq as off-limits.
Australians found to be illegally visiting the regions could face up to 10 years' prison.
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