Tony Burke, the Australian Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, has taken a prominent role in addressing the return of a group of Australian citizens from Syria. This group, made up of two women and four children, has sparked fear and fury among lawmakers and the general public. Burke assured us he was well aware of their eventual return as far back as June. He was able to get text messages notifying him of their departure and arrival at the end of September.
In Australia, the government has been under political fire for its overall response to this crisis. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, led by Penny Wong, facilitated the processing of the cohort in Lebanon before their return to Australia. Most significantly, citizenship by descent was awarded for two of the children through this process.
Confirmation of Return
Burke reiterated the idea that Australians who took the “horrific option” of moving to join the Islamic State are free to come home. He argues they should all have permission to return. He stated, “When Australian citizens seek to return to Australia, they are able to do so,” reiterating that this is not an isolated incident.
“This is not the first time that Australian citizens who have made that decision have returned,” Burke added, indicating a broader context in which these returns have occurred. His remarks help further the important national security conversation that has begun. They further examine the nuances of reintegrating people associated with extremist groups.
Despite Burke’s reassurances, for weeks he had maintained that there was no repatriation, before finally acknowledging the return of the cohort. This inconsistency has led to a backlash from opposition parties, who have accused the government of a lack of transparency and clarity on the current situation.
Political Reactions
Their return has ignited some of the harshest grilling yet from the Coalition’s members. Sussan Ley and her colleagues focused their inquiries on Anika Wells, Minister for Health and Aged Care, regarding her knowledge and handling of the situation. Ley’s specific questions were a key part of that broader critique. Senator Michaelia Cash claimed the Labor government is endeavouring to suppress information regarding the return.
Andrew Bragg added his voice to the swelling chorus of criticism when he slammed former Liberal cabinet minister George Brandis. He warned them that the Coalition’s path forward would risk losing more constituents than they think. Former Department of Defence official Andrew Hastie decided that was a subject worth remaining mute on. He rejected any notion that his abrupt exit was a calculated play to weaken Ley’s standing.
Kristy McBain, a member of the governing Labor Party, echoed growing frustrations with the apparent lack of cross-agency communications within the government. “Surely someone can pick up a phone. I’m sure they had plenty at their disposal,” she remarked, highlighting concerns over transparency and accountability in handling such sensitive issues.
Legislative Developments
Health Minister Anika Wells has been under further fire for her management of other federal government affairs, including a security breach following a recent Optus outage. Despite these pressures, she has worked on introducing legislation aimed at establishing a triple-0 custodian, a responsibility she inherited from her predecessor Michelle Rowland.
Immigration Minister Penny Wong has consistently sought to answer on the return of people connected to ISIS over Senate estimates. She has brought much-needed transparency to the government’s process regarding this vulnerable group.
Fellow backbencher Kristy McBain vigorously supported the government’s position. She claimed that they had more than enough information on the ongoing story of the return of these citizens. Yet the tone of her comments demonstrates an understanding that the government’s response should be the right balance of transparency, urgency, and intentionality.
