Tom Venning (Grey, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Growing up, I took safety for granted. We all did. But the fact is that, today, Australia just isn't as safe as it used to be. With the Middle East situation rapidly escalating, tough border policies are more important now than ever. We must protect our way of life. But look at Labor and the Greens. We only see national security contradictions. They say ISIS brides aren't welcome, then they quietly issue passports. They pretend their hands are tied while letting NGOs arrange secret returns for people who joined a terrorist regime.

Radicalisation doesn't just vanish. ASIO currently manages 18,000 individuals on a stretched watchlist. Adding high-risk returnees is just completely reckless. We cannot compromise or make exemptions when it comes to national safety. This is exactly why the coalition created the 'keeping Australia safe' bill. If anyone helps bring people back who are linked to terror without clear, direct ministerial approval, they will face up to 10 years in prison. If Labor ministers want these returns, they should step up and sign their names publicly. No more hiding behind bureaucratic excuses or outside groups—Australians deserve absolute clarity. They deserve total transparency and, most importantly, they deserve a government that refuses to compromise and that will always put Australia's security first.

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