Pauline Hanson (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Home Affairs, Senator Watt. An Islamic State bride, Rayann El Houli, accused of indoctrinating her children into violent jihad, was freed on bail in July. El Houli forced her children to watch propaganda videos of Islamic State fighters, filmed herself training her toddlers how to use a rifle and demanded that they show her how jihadist fighters slaughter an infidel. She faces charges of being a member of a terrorist organisation and entering a declared conflict zone after allegedly fleeing Melbourne to join the caliphate in 2014. Minister, El Houli was granted bail due to your government's inadequate laws. Why won't you make the safety of the Australian people the No. 1 priority and stop charged terrorists being easily released on bail?

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

Thank you, Senator Hanson. Well, this government does absolutely take the safety of Australians as its utmost priority, and that's why, in relation to this cohort, we've provided no assistance whatsoever to enable these people to return to Australia. Now, I might point out to those chuckling and sniggering opposition members that that's exactly the same approach that was taken by the former government, although it is worth reminding the coalition that, when they were in office, they assisted the return of over 40 foreign fighters. So people might like to be a little bit careful about claims that they're making right now.

Senator Hanson, the end of your question talked about efforts that the government would take to stop people being released on bail. I'm not sure if you're suggesting that the government should intervene in decisions that are being taken by the courts. That's obviously not something that this government supports, whether it be about this sort of situation or other situations. I can only assume that you're referring to the bill that you are seeking to introduce around temporary exclusion orders, and I remind you, as I said earlier today, that that bill is almost certain to be found unconstitutional by the High Court if it were passed by this parliament.

The current laws that we have in Australia, which were introduced by the coalition government, take the steps regarding temporary exclusion orders to the maximum limit they can be taken without falling foul of the Constitution. It's this government's view that we should not be passing laws that we know are unconstitutional, that we know will be struck down by the High Court and that we know actually put the safety of Australians at greater risk rather than removing that risk, and that is the approach that we are going to continue to take.

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

 Senator Hanson, first supplementary?

Pauline Hanson (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, we know that the courts look at legislation that's in place to make decisions, so therefore I'll go back to the laws. It was under—well, you're in your fifth year in government. You knew these ISIS brides were returning to Australia and you knew foreign fighters were going to be charged with crimes in Australia, yet you've done nothing to actually address that. And, when you talk about the bill, you haven't even seen the bill, so how can you say it's unconstitutional? I ask you, Minister: what legislation have you passed to ensure— (Time expired)

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

I think Senator Hanson's conclusion to the question was about steps that the government would take to stop these types of people being released on bail. Again, we're not going to intervene in the independent decisions of courts. We are going to ensure that Australian laws are as tough as they possibly can be in relation to this group of people—and they are. We have obviously considered what further steps can be taken around these laws, and the consistent advice is that any extension of the current laws around temporary exclusion orders or anything related to it would be knocked over by the High Court. That would put the safety of Australians at greater risk.

Now, Senator Hanson, I might remind you that, when this government has attempted to take steps to keep Australians safe by, for example, passing laws to deport hate preachers, the One Nation party voted against those laws. When you've had an opportunity to stand up for Australian safety on migration matters, you've decided to vote against that.

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

Senator Hanson, second supplementary?

Pauline Hanson (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, Labor has been dishonest about blocking ISIS brides from returning to Australia. You've been dishonest about whether accused terrorists can be stopped from getting bail. Another 13 suspected ISIS fighters could be freed from an Iraqi jail soon. How can the Australian people trust you will attempt to stop these ISIS fighters and sympathisers from returning to Australia?

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

Australians can certainly trust that this government will operate in line with Australian laws. We'll take the toughest possible action that we can under laws that are constitutional.

Senator Hanson talks a bit about dishonesty. I reckon what's dishonest is telling battlers that you're standing up for them and coming in and voting against wage rises. I reckon what's dishonest is saying we need more homes and blaming migrants for housing issues and then voting against more housing. I think that's dishonest. I think that what's dishonest is telling battlers that you're standing up for their health care and voting against a government that passes laws to provide more health care. That's what dishonesty is. That's what One Nation are. They are fundamentally dishonest when it comes to standing up for Australian battlers.

They say they do one thing, they come down here and they vote with the Liberals, and that's because they are effectively the same. We know that One Nation can only enter government in partnership with the Liberals, we know that the Liberals can only enter government in partnership with One Nation, and that would be a disaster for working people and the people One Nation claims to represent.