Media
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Transcripts
October 6, 2025
SENATOR JAMES PATERSON: Good morning. It's often the case when the going gets tough that the Minister for Home Affairs, Tony Burke, goes missing. And he's gone missing again this weekend on the question of the so-called ISIS brides and their children and their return to Australia. It's just not good enough for him not to front up to the media and for the public to answer questions about what the government knew, when they knew it, and what they did about the desire of these so-called ISIS brides and their children to return to Australia. They have to answer where they will be living, how they will be monitored, whether or not they'll be charged with any counter-terrorism offences and whether or not the government assisted them in any way in their return to Australia. Australians, particularly those from persecuted minorities like the Yazidis and Assyrian Christians who we made a home for after the rise and fall of Islamic State, are afraid today about what this means for them, and they deserve answers from their government.
Secondly, I just want to address the appalling comments made by Senator Larissa Waters on Insiders yesterday. David Speers gave her an opportunity to share the Greens' perspective on Israel-Gaza and to make her criticisms of the Albanese government. But when asked multiple times about the killing of Jews peacefully worshipping at a synagogue in Manchester, Senator Waters kept drawing the issue back to the government's position on Israel-Gaza and whether or not Australia sells arms to Israel, as if an alleged Islamist terrorist in the United Kingdom cares or knows what the Australian government's policy on these issues are. The Greens appear to have learned nothing from the election result, and if they have Senator Waters should front up and apologise today.
Happy to take questions.
JOURNALIST: Senator Paterson, are you indicating that the Coalition would like to go hard this week on ISIS brides? Isn't it unfortunate, then, that Andrew Hastie won't be steering that attack in the House this week?
SENATOR JAMES PATERSON: There are legitimate questions to be asked and to be answered by the Albanese government about this issue, particularly because the Prime Minister, under oath in the House of Representatives, said that the reports about the government assisting their return was not true. So they do need to front up and be honest about that this week, and I and my colleagues are perfectly capable of prosecuting those issues.
JOURNALIST: On Syria, Greens Senator David Shoebridge says he was able to visit one of those camps and walk in. He's now calling for the government to look into the repatriation of women and children, something that took place under previous governments, including under the Morrison government, I believe, in 2022. What do you make of his visit to Syria, and should that call be respected?
SENATOR JAMES PATERSON: Well, Senator Shoebridge is entitled to travel as he wishes and form whatever views he can from his experience. I haven't been to Syria, and so I haven't seen what he has seen. But in my previous capacity in the last parliament, I was briefed about this cohort and the national security risks that they may pose to Australia. I'm not aware that Senator Shoebridge has had an equivalent briefing, and I would encourage him to seek one before he offers free advice to the government publicly about whether or not it's safe, or in Australia's national interest, for all these people to return.
JOURNALIST: Do you have any evidence that the government assisted the brides to return to Australia, and what assistance would worry you? What, particularly, would be grave, do you believe, were the government found to offer it?
SENATOR JAMES PATERSON: Yes. Both by omission and commission the government was complicit in the return of these ISIS brides to Australia. Firstly, the Parliament has given the government the power to temporarily exclude someone from Australia if they've had an association with a terrorist organisation, and it does not appear the government used those powers in this instance, and they should explain why they haven't done so. Secondly, the children of these ISIS brides were born overseas, and by virtue of that, must obtain citizenship by descent by applying to the Department of Home Affairs for that, and then apply to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for passports. Otherwise, they cannot get on a plane bound for Australia, and they certainly cannot enter Australia and pass customs and immigration. So the government has assisted the return of these ISIS brides and their children, and they should stop misleading the public about that.
JOURNALIST: Senator, does the Prime Minister deserve some recognition from the opposition today, given that he has now clinched an important security agreement with Papua New Guinea?
SENATOR JAMES PATERSON: I welcome the finalisation of the agreement between Papua New Guinea and Australia. When reports first broke about a delay in the finalisation of this agreement, I said that I hoped that the Albanese government was able to tidy this up and get this agreed, and I do welcome that they have now done so.
JOURNALIST: David Littleproud, this morning, told the Liberals to sort their stuff out so they can focus on the Australian people and the issues that matter to them rather than themselves. What do you make of those comments?
SENATOR JAMES PATERSON: I also find it is best on these issues, and I always try to stick to the rule, of not providing advice to colleagues through the media.
JOURNALIST: Is it unusual that a Liberal election review submission has leaked, especially so early in the process?
SENATOR JAMES PATERSON: Yes, it is unusual, and it is very unfortunate. I don't know how it found its way in the public domain, but this is the most important election review in the history of the Liberal Party in our 80 years. We need, when it lands, for it to land with credibility and authority, so that its recommendations can be heard and can be implemented. If it is weaponised for internal purposes that will undermine the trust and credibility of this review. So it's incredibly regrettable, and I hope there is no more of it.
JOURNALIST: Do the Liberals need to start digging up soon?
SENATOR JAMES PATERSON: Pardon me?
JOURNALIST: Do the Liberals need to start digging up soon?
SENATOR JAMES PATERSON: Always grateful for advice from our friends in the media as well. What I've said on this is that it's understandable and normal after a devastating election defeat that we have a period of introspection and debate in the Liberal Party. But that process cannot go on forever. There is a time limit to that process, and we have to get back onto our core business of holding this government to account for its failings and developing a compelling alternative policy agenda to take to the next one.
JOURNALIST: Just on that, sorry, just with cabinet solidarity, which is why Mr. Hastie said he stepped back, but he wasn't bound by cabinet solidarity because there's no immigration policy, right? So, everyone in the Shadow Cabinet or the Shadow Ministry, in my understanding, can put their views forward without needing to step down. Same with net zero. There's no formalised policy around that. So why did this decision need to be made now?
SENATOR JAMES PATERSON: Look, I'm in no position to adjudicate the details of this issue because I'm not privy to the Charter letters that Andrew and other colleagues have received. I've only seen my own. But I think Andrew has been upfront and honest about his motivations. He disagreed with the approach of the leader and the honourable and right thing to do in those circumstances, if you support the Westminster conventions, as Andrew does, as I do, is to resign and go to the backbench. He's done that, and I think that shows integrity. Happy to take a couple more questions, then I do have to keep moving.
JOURNALIST: Just one more from me if that's alright. Can you rule out the prospect or what you told colleagues out of any leadership challenge this parliamentary term?
SENATOR JAMES PATERSON: I don't see that in prospect at all. My assessment is that Sussan has the strong and overwhelming support of the party room.
JOURNALIST: That said, resigning and going to the backbench might be honourable, but it's also a well-worn path. By leading up to past Liberal leadership challenges, we could quote those to you, but I'm sure you don't need them. There must be some concern now, within the party, that senior and prominent people, like Andrew Hastie on the backbench, are a long-term threat to leadership stability.
SENATOR JAMES PATERSON: History is a guide, but it's not a template. And I take Andrew at his word about his motivations.
Thank you.
ENDS