Jamie Chaffey (Parkes, National Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Agriculture) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to speak on the matter of allowing ISIS brides to return to Australia—personally, one of the most difficult issues I've had to address in this place. Australians are compassionate people. We value our families. We care for our friends and for our neighbours. We extend the hand of help to many nations. It does not come naturally to say no, but in this case we cannot ignore the fact that bringing back people who have made the choice to actively support a merciless terrorist regime is an unacceptable risk to this country. It is a proven, unacceptable risk—we're not just talking about hypotheticals here. In the case of ISIS brides, it is a clear case where logic must overrule emotion.

We are talking about people here who have made the choice to take a stance against our country and against our way of life. Their children have been raised within the confines of a terrorist organisation where Australia is the enemy. As a federal member of this parliament, representing a geographical area more than half of New South Wales, it is my duty to put the safety of the people of the Parkes electorate and our nation first. I cannot support actions that would welcome people who have chosen to support terrorism back into this country. It would be misguided, it would be gutless and it would be downright dangerous.

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