Housing Minister Clare O’Neil faced tough questions on Sunrise from host Natalie Barr regarding the reported return of six Australian women formerly associated with Islamic State, amid accusations of a “cover-up” against Foreign Minister Penny Wong during Senate Estimates.
The issue has gained traction following reports last week that six Australian women, all believed to be partners of Islamic State members, had re-entered the country after being smuggled out of northern Syria.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese previously stated that claims his government was facilitating the return of so-called “ISIS brides” were inaccurate – a stance the government has consistently maintained.
During Senate Estimates on Tuesday, Liberal Senator Michaelia Cash questioned Foreign Minister Penny Wong about the women’s movements.
Wong, however, declined to provide details.
On Wednesday morning, Senator Cash and Minister O’Neil appeared on Sunrise, where Natalie Barr sought clarity on the matter.
“Why is the government unable to confirm how many women fled Syria and returned here? It’s been reported in the media,” Barr asked.
Minister O’Neil responded, maintaining that the government had not been involved in their return.
“I think Senator Wong made it really clear in the estimates hearing that no repatriation assistance has been provided to this group of people,” O’Neil said.
“The government has not supported this group of people back into Australia and they have been dealt with through the usual way that these matters are dealt with – in the same way that Michaelia’s government did when they were in office.”
O’Neil also pointed out that Senator Cash had previously supported the repatriation of eight children of ISIS members under the Morrison government in 2019.
When asked by Barr what she believes the Australian public should know, Senator Cash was visibly frustrated.
“Albanese told the Australian people that the ISIS brides were not returning to Australia and we now know that they have,” she said.
“Instead of providing answers in estimates yesterday, the government provided silence.
“They’re treating the Australian people like fools. These are women who left Australia to join what is regarded as probably one of the most disgraceful and barbaric terrorist organisations that has murdered, raped, and killed women, men and children.
“Now, the government won’t even provide Australians with the most basic of answers.”
Cash then posed a direct series of questions to O’Neil.
“Clare, how many ISIS brides are back in Australia? What assessments did your government do before they arrived back in Australia? What monitoring conditions are in place in relation to them? What is your government doing to keep Australians safe?”
Barr acknowledged during the segment that the women in question are Australian citizens and, as such, have the legal right to return.
Minister O’Neil criticised Senator Cash for politicising the issue.
“I mean, these matters are being dealt with in the same way that they were dealt with under the Morrison government,” she said, referencing again the 2019 repatriation operation.
“Michaelia was part of a cabinet that went to Syria and picked up a group of people and brought them back to Australia, which is different from what’s happened here.
“Here we have a group of people who were not offered any repatriation assistance by our government.
“So, as usual, we’re seeing Michaelia trying to make a political issue out of something that doesn’t really make sense.”
Barr then pressed O’Neil for further clarity.
“Clare, you are confirming several of the ISIS brides have come back into the country but they’re Australian citizens, so the Australian government hasn’t helped them, is that right?”
O’Neil responded, “I’m not confirming anything that is not already on the public record.”
Cash continued to demand transparency, stating, “What is the issue, Clare, with saying the ISIS brides have returned?
“The children were not born in Australia. They were born overseas. They didn’t have any documents, they didn’t have a passport or birth certificate.
“The Australian government had to facilitate the giving of those documents to the children in order for them to come into Australia.”
She went on to ask why the government cannot confirm how many women have returned, where they are, and what is being done to protect the Australian public.
“I’m at a loss to understand why basic questions can’t be answered?” she said.
Minister O’Neil reiterated that no repatriation assistance had been provided by the government to the overseas-born children of the women involved.
When Barr asked how the children had been able to enter the country, O’Neil replied,
“What I can tell you is the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister have been absolutely clear – we didn’t provide repatriation assistance.
“I say again to Michaelia, she was a part of government that actually went to Syria and took a group back to Australia.”
Images: Sunrise
