Maria Kovacic (NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister to the Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Home Affairs, Senator Watt. Has the government met with representatives from Save the Children to discuss the repatriation of ISIS associates and/or their children?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thanks, Senator Kovacic. As I've said, the Australian government is not providing assistance to the cohort that's been referred to in reports, and I've got nothing further to add to my previous answers.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Kovacic, first supplementary?

Opposition senators interjecting—

I'm very sorry, Senator Kovacic. It's extremely disrespectful of people on your own side to be yelling and talking over you whilst you were invited to make your first supplementary question. Please continue.

Maria Kovacic (NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister to the Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, has the government been briefed by Save the Children in relation to the repatriation of ISIS associates and/or their children?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Again, these questions are all predicated on certain assumptions, and I repeat the point that the Australian government is not providing assistance to this cohort.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Kovacic, second supplementary?

Maria Kovacic (NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister to the Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, in your answer to Senator Scarr, you said:

… the Australian government is not providing assistance and is not repatriating individuals in Syrian IDP camps.

I ask the question again: Is any government department issuing travel documents or birth certificates to children born overseas to parents who are Australian citizens and are ISIS associates? Is the government issuing any of these documents?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Again, the Australian government is not providing assistance to this cohort.

Tyron Whitten (WA, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Home Affairs, Murray Watt. The government has denied any part in repatriating the ISIS brides. The deputy police commissioner of New South Wales has told estimates that they are working with the Commonwealth on this very issue. Is the deputy police commissioner mistaken, or has the government been in discussions with New South Wales police over the repatriation of the ISIS brides?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thanks, Senator. Obviously, various comments have been made, and that's a matter for the New South Wales police as to what they say. But the Australian government is not providing assistance to this cohort.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Whitten, first supplementary?

Tyron Whitten (WA, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The government is pushing through legislation to send the NZYQ cohort to Nauru at a cost of $2.5 billion. Would the government consider sending future ISIS brides to Nauru, instead of allowing them back into the community after they've joined an explicit terrorist organisation?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Australian government is not providing assistance to this cohort.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Whitten, second supplementary?

Tyron Whitten (WA, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This doesn't pass the pub test. We've got the New South Wales police discussing details of bringing these ISIS brides home, and the government sits there saying, 'Nothing to see here.' It doesn't add up. What happened to the government of transparency? You'd better tell the New South Wales police they've got the wrong end of the stick—or the government needs to come clean: How much is this going to cost? When are they coming in? And where are you going to put them? Don't you think Australians deserve answers now?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm not going to comment on comments made by the New South Wales police, but the Australian government is not providing assistance to this cohort.