Jonathon Duniam Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Environment, Fisheries and Forestry
2:51 pm
My question is to the Minister—
Sue Lines President
I'm sorry, Senator Duniam. Senator Canavan, I have called you. Your running commentary is disrespectful. Please continue, Senator Duniam.
Jonathon Duniam Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Environment, Fisheries and Forestry
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Home Affairs, Senator Watt. In a statement in this chamber earlier, largely repeated by Senator Watt in this question time, Senator Gallagher confirmed security agencies have been monitoring and continue to monitor a cohort of Australians in Syria. As we know, the cohort is referred to as the ISIS death cult associates. Minister, can the government confirm whether any of the cohort is coming back to Australia?
Murray Watt Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water
2:52 pm
Thanks, Senator Duniam. I can confirm the comments of Senator Gallagher earlier today to the effect that our security and intelligence agencies have been working and continue to work to ensure they are prepared for any Australian from this cohort returning home. But I also repeat the point that I've made several times now, which is that the Australian government is not providing assistance to this cohort.
Sue Lines President
He's finished the answer, Senator Duniam. First supplementary?
Jonathon Duniam Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Environment, Fisheries and Forestry
2:53 pm
I note there was no answer given in relation to the specific question. Senator Gallagher went on to say:
Our agencies are aware of … persons of interest … in this cohort.
Are any of the cohort subject to warrants issued by Australia related to alleged offences during their time in the Middle East?
Murray Watt Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water
Thanks, Senator Duniam, for the supplementary. I again repeat the point that I've made several times today, which is that the Australian government is not providing assistance to this cohort, and I also—
Sue Lines President
Minister Watt, please resume your seat. Senator Duniam?
Jonathon Duniam Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Environment, Fisheries and Forestry
President, on relevance, I was very specific about whether any warrants had been issued by Australia relating to alleged offences in the Middle East, not about assistance being provided.
Sue Lines President
Senator Watt, I draw you to the specifics of the question.
Murray Watt Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water
Thanks, President, and thanks, Senator Duniam. Again, I can only repeat the advice that I've provided so far, which is that the Australian government is not providing assistance to this cohort.
Sue Lines President
Minister Watt, please resume your seat. Senator Duniam?
Jonathon Duniam Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Environment, Fisheries and Forestry
President, on relevance again, the minister repeated exactly what he said before, which precipitated the first point of order. I would ask you to draw him to the specifics of the question, around the warrants issued.
Sue Lines President
Certainly. Thank you, Senator Duniam. Minister Gallagher?
Katy Gallagher ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service
On the point of order, President, you have made remarks a number of times indicating that you cannot direct ministers how to answer a question, and I would remind you of that and suggest that Minister Watt is being relevant. He is answering the question that has been asked, but he can't be directed how to answer it.
Sue Lines President
The minister continued with the same answer he had begun with before the first point of order, on which I drew him back to the question. You are absolutely right: I can't direct ministers to answer questions in a specific way, but I can draw ministers, where appropriate, back to the question, and I remind Minister Watt of that. Senator Henderson.
Sarah Henderson Victoria, Liberal Party
On the point of order, I would just ask you to remind the minister that he must be directly relevant—not just relevant but directly relevant.
The:
Senator Henderson, if you're so keen on doing this job, put your name down as a temporary chair. I've responded to the point of order and drawn the minister back to the question, and it's not a point of order.
Murray Watt Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water
Thanks, President, and thank you to the various coalition senators as well for their guidance as to how I should answer the question. I was actually midway through my answer to the question from Senator Duniam and began by repeating the point that we are not providing assistance to the cohort. But I was also going to confirm again the comments that Senator Gallagher made earlier today—and this goes to part of Senator Duniam's question—that our security and intelligence agencies have been working and continue to work to ensure that they are prepared for any Australian from this cohort returning home.
Jonathon Duniam Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Environment, Fisheries and Forestry
2:56 pm
That again did not answer the question that was asked, but we'll try this. Senator Gallagher further said that agencies were 'prepared and will be able to act in the interests of community safety'. What actions can the agencies take to keep Australians safe from the persons of interest in this cohort?
Murray Watt Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water
I will come to the question directly in a moment, but, again, it is correct that our security and intelligence agencies have been working and continue to work to ensure they are prepared for any Australian from this cohort returning home. Senator Duniam's question seeks information about the activities of our security agencies, and, of course, no Australian government would provide the kind of information that Senator Duniam is seeking as to the activities of our security agencies. Those sorts of activities are kept confidential for a reason; it's because they do go to national security matters, so we don't propose to elaborate on what those activities are other than to say that our security intelligence agencies have been working and continue to work to ensure they are prepared for any Australian from this cohort returning home.