Dean Smith (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade) Share this | Hansard source

As Senator O'Neill has revealed in her own actions, Labor has had a very uncomfortable day. Labor senators have had a very uncomfortable day. And what we saw from Senator Murray Watt from Queensland was a brevity in answering questions from coalition senators that is usually absent. And why was Senator Watt exercising brevity in responding to coalition senators' questions today? Because the government is exposed and the government is vulnerable.

Yesterday the Prime Minister told the parliament that reports that ISIS brides were being repatriated to Australia were 'not accurate'. Last night, instead, we learned that the acting chief of the New South Wales Police Force was working with federal counterparts to finalise operations relating to the return of Islamic State associates. The coalition in question time today asked the government to be clear and honest with the Australian people and confirm whether individuals associated or formerly associated with ISIS are in fact returning to Australia, or have returned to Australia in recent months—yes or no? We were curious to ask those questions at two o'clock today because earlier today Senator Gallagher, a very senior Labor senator, had confirmed in this Senate chamber that security agencies have been monitoring and continue to monitor a cohort of Australians in Syria. And so we wanted to know, quite rightly, more information about that, because this goes to the heart not just of our national security but the community of local communities across our country.

So why else would Labor be embarrassed today? Why else would Labor be uncomfortable today? Why would Labor senators be red-faced today? Because today we have learnt—splashed across our national newspapers, quite rightly—that the former Victorian Labor premier accepted an invitation and took himself off to Beijing with the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the authoritarian leader of North Korea and the President of Russia. There is silence from Labor senators. You can see it in their faces; they are embarrassed.