Michaelia Cash WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs
2:14 pm
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. There are reports that a number of individuals associated with the Islamic State terrorist group, ISIS, will be returning to Australia. Many of these individuals made a conscious decision to wilfully abandon Australia to join the ISIS death cult, a group which committed genocide against Shia, Christian and Yazidi communities, murdered a large number of civilians, and used rape as a weapon of war against women and girls. Is the government aware of how many individuals associated with ISIS are intending to return to Australia from Syria, and does the Prime Minister support these individuals coming to Australia despite their links to terrorism?
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs
2:15 pm
I understand that the Minister for Home Affairs has provided a comment to the media. I can indicate that we obviously are aware of media reporting. The Australian government is not providing assistance and is not repatriating this cohort.
Michaelia Cash WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs
Can the government guarantee that none of the individuals who made the conscious decision to wilfully abandon Australia to join the ISIS death cult have committed any terrorist acts, have had any association with terrorism or have any ongoing links with extremist groups?
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs
2:16 pm
Well, Senator, I think that question doesn't follow from my answer to the primary one. The government is not repatriating this cohort.
Michaelia Cash WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs
Can the government guarantee that, in the event these individuals do return to Australia, all of the individuals who have associated with ISIS will be monitored by our security agencies, and can the minister guarantee that, if these individuals are returned to Australia, there is no threat to community safety as a result of their return?
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs
The government always takes the advice of our security agencies, and our first priority is to keep Australians safe.