My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Home Affairs, Senator Watt. It appears that multiple federal and state government agencies are working on operations relating to the return to Australia of a cohort of Islamic State associates. The acting chief of the NSW Police Force has made clear his state force is working with federal counterparts to finalise operations in relation to the return of Islamic State associates. Is any government department involved in the issuing of birth certificates or travel documents to children born overseas to parents who are Australian citizens and are associates of ISIS? Can the minister advise if there are any other government agencies who are working with state counterparts to finalise operations relating to the return of these individuals?
Senator WATT (Queensland—Minister for the Environment and Water) (14:11): Thank you, Senator Scarr, for the question. This is obviously an issue that the opposition have concentrated a lot of time on in question time over the last couple of days. As Senator Farrell has already stated, the situation in Syria is becoming increasingly unstable. Our security agencies have been monitoring and continue to monitor the situation to ensure they are prepared for any Australian from this cohort returning home. I can repeat what Senator Farrell has said, which is that the Australian government is not providing assistance and is not repatriating individuals in Syrian IDP camps. More broadly, our government is one that always acts in line with security advice. We’ll continue to do that whether it be in relation to this situation or any other.
