Andrew Hastie (Canning, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I just have. So now is the time to move forward behind the current government. ISIS is a grave threat. They have a stronghold in Iraq and Syria. But the threat is spreading. As we saw on 2 October, with the execution of Curtis Cheng, now is not the time to take a backward step. These people are opposed to fundamental morality, to fundamental international law. They do not respect states; they do not respect governments. I ask members opposite: have you seen the videos that these people disseminate around the world via social media? I have, and I am very, very clear-eyed about the threat that Daesh pose to both the Middle East and the West. As you are well aware, when those 20 Coptic Christians were murdered on the beach in Libya, Daesh made it very clear their aims are beyond the Middle East.

Currently we are attacking Daesh with a root-and-branch strategy. We are fighting them in the Middle East, and our domestic counter-terrorism agencies are also taking care of the branches. We have 120 Australians currently supporting or fighting Daesh in the Middle East, and in the last year we have contributed more than $600 million to providing counter-terrorism agencies within Australia with the funding to do their job and protect the Australian people.

Debate adjourned.

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