Australia to crack down on Boko Haram over kidnap of schoolgirls

Australia is cracking down on the Nigerian terror group that kidnapped 200 girls, banning Boko Haram under Australian terrorism laws. Prime Minister Tony Abbott says the whole world was transfixed and horrified by the group's hostage-taking.

The group is also responsible for the deaths of another 300 people in recent terror attacks.

Killings by the group alone this year amount to over 2000 persons. Mr Abbott says the government is taking steps to commence the process of banning Boko Haram as a terrorist organisation in line with action already taken by the US, UK, Canada and Nigeria.

Labor has backed the PM decision.