Maria Kovacic (NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Women) Share this | Hansard source

The dire circumstances faced by Iran's national women's soccer team has rightly touched many Australians. Like so many, I was delighted by the news this morning that five of the players had made a daring escape from what are called their handlers and had been granted humanitarian visas to remain here in Australia. News of government officials in Iran labelling the players as wartime traitors clearly illustrated the grave threat that these women could face if they were to return to Iran.

This grave threat occurs at the hands of a despotic authoritarian regime that has simply no concern for the rights of its people. This grave threat occurs at the hands of an extremist religious regime that funds terrorist campaigns across its region to destabilise those that promote the ideal that they are so fundamentally scared of: freedom. This grave threat occurs at the hands of a regime intent on inflicting terror and damage towards its dissident communities around the world, including here in Australia. The actions of this regime have not occurred in the shadows; they have occurred on our TV screens for decades. Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen—the Iranian regime has been the most significant obstacle to peace in the Middle East for decades. It is the Iranian regime that has been supplying Russia with the drones that have been wreaking havoc on Ukrainian cities for four years throughout their illegal invasion. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps have directed two terrorist attacks in Australia that we know of—the October arson attack on the Lewis' Continental Kitchen and the December arson attack on the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne. This is an evil regime that has brought terror to our shores, to Australia.

But the women of Iran face an internal struggle under this regime. In Iran, women are second-class citizens. The fundamentalist Islamic regime has, for decades, suppressed the rights of women. From the age of seven, girls and women are required to cover their hair and their entire bodies. Only their faces, hands and feet may be visible. They have no choice. We all remember the protests in 2022 when Mahsa Amini was killed after violating this law. Women and girls in Iran are subjected to male guardianship throughout their entire lives. They must gain their male guardian's consent to travel and to obtain a new, to renew or to use a passport. The list of discriminatory practices in Iran is virtually endless.

I know it comes as no surprise to Australians that the women's soccer team is so hesitant to return to Iran. Disturbing footage of the team emerged today where it appeared that one of the players was being dragged by another onto the bus. I have no doubt that there are many more players on that team that would love to stay here in Australia. I also have no doubt that there are many of them who are terrified for the plight of their own families that remain in Iran if they are to do so and, for that reason, many will not stay here. To them I say: we will continue to fight for you. It is my sincere hope that the government creates and gives every opportunity for the players to make a decision about their fate free from the shackles of the authoritarian regime. Whilst they are in Australia, they should enjoy the rights of any Australian. In the week of International Women's Day, I encourage all Australians to remember the circumstances of these women and the struggle of all Iranian women for freedom and others like them around the world.