Angie Bell (Moncrieff, Liberal National Party, Shadow Minister for Youth) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The first job of any government is to keep its people safe. But over the past week, Australians have watched this minister for home affairs dodge serious and legitimate questions—questions about what assistance the Albanese government has provided to individuals linked to ISIS. This is not a political game; this is a matter of national security. Has the government directly or indirectly facilitated the return of people who chose to travel to a declared terrorist hotspot, like Syria, to support a death cult? Australians deserve clear answers. Were Commonwealth resources used? What security assessments have been undertaken, and are there any additional ISIS linked individuals preparing to return?

National security should never be outsourced to NGOs. The government has claimed it had no role in the repatriation and could do nothing to stop it—that is simply not good enough. It should not be lawful for anyone to facilitate the re-entry of individuals connected to terrorist organisations without explicit approval from the Australian government. The coalition's message is simple: we must shut the door to those who abandon Australia to align themselves with Islamist extremists. Repatriation should only occur when the Commonwealth determines it is safe, not when third parties decide. We on this side of the House will always put national security first, 100 per cent. Those who reject those values in favour of—

Sharon Claydon (Newcastle, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Solomon has the call.