MATTERS OF URGENCY

Senator DUNIAM (Tasmania—Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate) (16:33): I commend One Nation for bringing forward this urgency motion today, which does go to the very heart of the most important job any government has at any point in time in history, and that is to keep its people safe. Nothing makes it clearer than listening to Senator Roberts's speech or indeed observing the actions of this government, which paint a very clear picture, that this government is failing at that very task, of keeping Australians safe from those who seek to do harm.

At the centrepiece of the debate we're having right now—one we've been having for quite some time—is this government's decision to actively support the repatriation of ISIS brides back into this country. It doesn't matter when you say, 'We are providing no assistance;' the facts there are otherwise. This government provided passports to these individuals, when the Passports Act gives it capacity not to.

That was an active decision by this government. This government assisted their passage to the airport. It shepherded them from the plane to their hotels.

It bought them pizzas when they arrived in Australia to make them feel comfortable. If that is not providing support, then I do not know what that is. This government is running a concierge service for people who turn their backs on this country and everything we believe in.

And when it gets a bit tough for these people who supported that death cult, ISIS, when things are getting a bit hard for them where they chose to go, they want to come back here and take advantage of our rule of law, of our court system—something they hate. People who support Islamic State do not believe in Western democracies, do not believe in the legal system we abide by.

So this government is actively facilitating the return of these people who do evil things. And if we think they've had a change of heart while they've been away, that they've suddenly seen the error of their ways and they want to come back and integrate into society then we are more silly as a country than we look. They didn't just change their minds and decide that perhaps being a law-abiding Australian citizen was what they always were.

That hatred that they adopted when they went to support ISIS is still in their hearts, in their minds and, I fear, very much in their children's hearts as well. This government has not done what they should have done, and that is to protect the Australian people from the harm these people are going to import back into this country. At a time when we have a royal commission on foot talking about extremism, radicalisation, and how we can ensure that we can prevent that sort of thing from happening in our community, all the while, through our borders are coming people like this.

And what about that fellow that they found in the Iraqi prison, Doctor Jihad? 'I wasn't a militant. I wasn't a combatant.' He supported ISIS fighters. He healed their wounds.

He sent them back out to cause and inflict the harm that ISIS fighters inflict, but no, this guy's an Australian citizen. We won't provide any assistance whatsoever. Well, I'm sorry, that just does not cut it.

The facts bear out that you are providing assistance. I had the pleasure and the honour of meeting members of the Yazidi community from Coffs Harbour, a visit organised by Mr Pat Conaghan, the local member for Cowper. I heard the most moving testimony of experiences that here in Australia we can't even begin to imagine.

People were, because of their faith, persecuted in the worst of ways—rape, kidnapping, torture, separation of child from parent, brainwashing. The things that were told to me just half an hour ago by a group of people who now sit in the public gallery are things that should give this government pause for thought, and to consider what they are doing when they allow these people to come back into the country, facilitating their entry.

These are people who came to Australia for safety, for sanctuary, for a place to feel included and to be able to live out their lives peacefully, and this government is bringing back the people who drove them—the Yazidi community—from where they were from, who vilified, victimised and pursued these people in the worst of ways just because of their faith. I can't even begin to imagine the experiences these individuals have gone through.

Members of family are still not located, still separated from those who've been able to make it to Australia. And while we're not providing support to that community, who desperately, genuinely need help, who adore what this country has to offer, we are bending over backwards to bring in ISIS brides, ISIS doctors, and all sorts of evil back into this country.

I say shame on this government. Put Australians and others who adore this country first.