When I first came into this role as Leader of the Federal Liberal Party and Leader of the Opposition, I said there would be two top priorities for us. One is restoring Australians' standard of living and the other is protecting our way of life.
In the spirit of protecting our way of life, we've seen just in recent days two very clear developments. On the one hand the extreme brutality of this Iranian regime. And the second is the strength of the nations who are prepared to stand up to this regime.
Now, the Iranian regime has seen fit to attack civilian infrastructure. We've seen over time they've been willing to engage in terrorist activities around the world, including in our country. Including in our country. But what we see today is allies working together to push back against this despotic regime and we very much welcome the decision and announcement made by the Government to support our allies in their work against this regime and in particular the provision of the Wedgetail and the missiles.
This is something that we strongly support from the Coalition.
We must stand together against a regime like this. We must stand together against those who do not accept our values and are against our way of life. And that is certainly true of this Iranian regime.
In a moment I'll ask James to make a few comments on that.
It's good to have him and Jonathon and Ted here today to talk further about it.
Before I do though, I want to make a couple of comments on a very human story that we have seen in the last 24 hours.
We have seen the Government grant asylum to the five Iranian women soccer players and we welcome this development. We welcome this development.
These women are standing up against the regime I just described with great courage. With enormous courage. And I think that's captured the imagination of the Australian people. Every reasonable Australian would want a good outcome for their safety and for their future.
It's also important to point out, as always with asylum seeking cases, that there are two principles that need to guide those decisions. One is that they must be compliant with Australian law and they must be in the national interest.
We will stand up for freedom abroad and we'll stand up to offer safety to those who genuinely need it, but we will always do so in a way that protects our national interest and our way of life.
Now I'll ask James to make a few comments on the defence issues.
JAMES PATERSON:
Thanks Angus.
This morning I was briefed by Defence on the Government's decision to deploy the E-7A Wedgetail, 85 support personnel and a number of air to air missiles in support of our friends and allies in the region who made requests for assistance.
Based on the assurances I received in that briefing, the Coalition is in a position to offer our bipartisan support for the Government's decision.
There are three reasons why we are supportive of this decision.
The first is when your friends ask you for help, if you're able to help you should help. And there's no question that the United Arab Emirates and other Gulf states are our friends.
In the case of the UAE, they've hosted Australian Defence Force personnel for decades at the Al Minhad base in the Middle East supporting our Middle East operations.
Secondly, it's clear that it's in Australia's national interest for the waterways around the Gulf and for the airspace above the Gulf to be cleared as soon as possible. If they can be cleared that will allow the resumption of the flow of oil through the Gulf and Australians to leave the Gulf who wish to come home on regular scheduled commercial flights. The deployment of the Wedgetail should assist in making that happen more quickly.
And finally this is an opportunity for us to learn the lessons of modern warfare. As Ukraine has shown us, and as Iran reminds us, we are in an age of missiles and drones and deployment of Australian Defence Force personnel to be assisting in the interdiction of those drones and missiles is an opportunity to learn about this modern form of combat and conflict and to bring those lessons home.
So for those reasons we support the deployment that the Government has announced this morning.
JONNO DUNIAM:
Well, in relation to the developments relating to the Iranian women's soccer team, of course as Angus has already said we support very much the Government's actions here to provide a pathway to asylum for these players and making that option available to the rest of the team.
The information that's been made available to us, we are satisfied that the Government have acted in a way that is as best they could for this cohort of women, and of course as has been stated we want to make sure that anyone that does come to this country this way or any other way does so in a way that accords with Australian law. That when they come here they do abide by the laws of our land and of course it's in the national interest to do so.
So making those provisions, that pathway available to this team is of course important and we do welcome that and commend the Minister for doing so, especially when he has been so active and this Government has been so active in pursuit of support for groups like the ISIS Brides cohort. This is a refreshing change.
On the matter of the Migration Amendment Bill which was tabled in the Parliament just an hour or two ago, on the face of the laws that have been tabled by the Government in Parliament they are laws that make sense when it comes to protecting our national security and ensuring our migration system operates in a way that is to the benefit of our country.
Those laws, which I'm sure the Government will explain in more detail at a time suited to them, a laws that will temporarily suspend the visas - temporary and visitor visas of people from certain areas affected by significant events from coming to Australia, for fear that they may outstay the duration of their visa perhaps seeking to stay permanently.
This is an arrangement that I think is sensible and on the face of it, having had a verbal briefing and of course a Senate committee inquiry into the bills tonight, it is something we see as sensible, but we'll go through our internal processes and if possible offer our support to the passage of that legislation which is important, as I say, to protect the integrity of our
TED O'BRIEN:
There is of course heightened anxiety among many Australians due to the conflict in the Middle East, in particular Australians who find themselves within the region.
We are pleased that the repatriation efforts have picked up. By reports 2,600 Australians have returned home.
I want to echo the advice that has come from the Government today for those Australians who are still in the region and wanting to get home and that is to ensure that they actively seek a commercial seat on a plane to get out of the region as soon as they are able.
Freedom is an expression of protecting one's way of life. That's what it's all about. That is why through the various things discussed today the Coalition is supporting the Government because our priority, as Angus has made crystal clear, is to ensure that we are protecting Australians' way of life.
JOURNALIST:
Thanks Mr Taylor. Isn't there an obvious inconsistency, it's good for the soccer players to be given asylum, that the Coalition supports the Iranian people overthrowing it, punishing regime. But you're supporting changes to stop anyone else getting protection in Australia.
ANGUS TAYLOR:
Sorry, this is people coming to Australia?
JOURNALIST:
Yeah, you're cutting off [inaudible].
ANGUS TAYLOR:
…I might get Jonno to add. I don't think there's any inconsistency…
JOURNALIST:
What about if your friend [inaudible]?
ANGUS TAYLOR:
The Iranian soccer players are already here. We've said it's important they go through the process, be compliant with Australian law, and that it be in the national interest. And Jonno you might want to add to that?
JONNO DUNIAM:
Sure, sure and of course there are reports that this group of women are under coercive control. There are various reports of the individuals managing this cohort. They don't sound like friendly individuals and it doesn't sound like there's a lot of free will being exercised.
So I think this is the appropriate response.
In terms of the great number of people that would be in possession of these visitor or temporary visas to Australia, that is a very different matter.
We're talking about 25 female sports players who may potentially all seek asylum. Who knows, five have been granted and then many, many more that could potentially take advantage of a weakness in our system.
If people want to apply for asylum from outside Australia, should these laws pass then that is the appropriate way to do it. But these laws are the best way to maintain the integrity - based on what I've read and the briefing I've had - of our migration system.
JOURNALIST:
So Mr Taylor, why is it the case that an elite sportsperson from Iran gets Australian protection while somebody else, another woman from Iran who isn't yet in the country, who may be suffering the same things from the regime, doesn't get your support?
ANGUS TAYLOR:
Well, as I say, these Iranian soccer players are already in the country and our system has always dealt with that situation differently. So I think that's important. I don't know whether you want to say any more about that.
JOURNALIST:
Does it have to be case-by-case though, because it doesn't seem like the fair system you're talking about is quite as fair for people who aren't soccer players?
JONNO DUNIAM:
So in terms of, this is not about their profession, it's about the fact that as Angus has pointed out, they're here. And we've talked about the conditions reportedly relating to their existence here, but in terms I'm just going to eat one of those. But in terms of…
JOURNALIST:
Sorry Senator, if anybody is already in the country on a temporary visa would they also therefore be afforded more consideration?
JONNO DUNIAM:
So, well, the laws that have been tabled in Parliament apply to people who aren't in the country now. That's the difference. Now, who knows about the circumstances of the many, and I'm talking lots of people here, we're not talking a couple of hundred, quite a few, holders of these visas, all with different circumstances, many of whom could have come well before now, well before this conflict, many who may well have the resources to do so. Iran is not a destitute country, it has a high level of wealth for individuals there. This is not about singling people out, it's about managing our migration system in a way that maintains its integrity and protects our national interest. And based on what we've read and what we have been briefed on, and we'll see more through the Senate inquiry, which will be open for all to see, we'll be satisfied with that hopefully and pass those laws.
JOURNALIST:
Mr Taylor, I've got two questions. One to Senator Paterson. You said that you sought assurances from the Government, first of all, what are they? My second question is actually to Senator Duniam, it's grandly curious that people have been issued a temporary visa when they're sitting overseas. What have you been told about the particular cohort that this legislation targets? Is there something suspicious about the process under which they were given that visa? And it could be that the Coalition gave some of those visas.
JAMES PATERSON:
Andrew, in response to your first question, that was a classified briefing, so obviously I'm not going to disclose the answers that were given to me by officials. But what I wanted to satisfy myself of on behalf of the Opposition was that we were able to provide this assistance without it in any way detracting from our ability to defend our own national security interests in our own region. And based on the answers I was provided by Defence, I am satisfied that it won't detract from that.
JONNO DUNIAM:
With regard to this legislation, it isn't targeting a particular group of people based on certain characteristics. This empowers the Government to designate an event as a significant event, which then empowers the Minister for Home Affairs to make determinations relating to visas that are held by people in that area affected by that event.
For example, someone who might be applying for a visitor visa from Iran now. Chances are, given what is happening there, would be rejected - that visa, because there would be a high risk of that person outstaying that visa to go on to seek some sort of permanency here, one way or another, which may not be in the nation's interests. And we are again not talking about one or two. We're talking about a significant number of people here. That's why this legislation - and it doesn't just specify a geographic area, this is a change to the laws that will be able to be enlivened at any point by the Government of the day.
JOURNALIST:
Mr Taylor, what would you say to Australians who might hold reservations about personnel going into the Middle East, given the history of long, drawn-out, bloody conflict in that region?
ANGUS TAYLOR:
Well, the first thing I would say is this is an absolutely despotic regime. It's attacking civilian infrastructure. It has attacked via proxies Australia.
I was down at the Adass Synagogue only a few short weeks ago and I saw the outcome of that. Of course that happened some time back, but it was an absolutely despicable act supported by the IRGC. And that's what this regime is capable of.
We need to stand by our allies and work closely with countries who we've stood shoulder to shoulder with for a long, long time to make sure we hold that regime to account. And most importantly we protect the free world against what it has been prepared to do.
It is a regime that we cannot ever support in any way, shape or form, frankly, right now. And we want to see the Iranian people take control of their country again.
JOURNALIST:
The Senator mentioned the Iranian officials who accompanied the football team to Australia. Should more have been done in response to those minders who appeared to prevent these women from seeking asylum?
ANGUS TAYLOR:
Well what I will say is I think they were clearly very brave and courageous women in the way they've acted. I don't know if you want to add, to talk about the managers, Jonno?
JONNO DUNIAM:
Yes look, these are reports. And if those reports are real, are accurate, then they're questions for the Government to answer. They're the ones that manage the migration system and vetting and background checks and the like. That is a matter for them to answer.
JOURNALIST:
Mr Taylor, so just to follow up on Cam's question, does this deployment, I suppose, draw a target on Australia's back?
ANGUS TAYLOR:
Well we have been a target already for the IRGC. I mean that's the point I made. We've had two attacks sponsored by them. That's what they're prepared to do. They're prepared to come into our country and support attacks against Australians. So I would say the target's already there frankly.
We'll keep going across here.
JOURNALIST:
This morning your colleague Andrew Hastie expressed real concern about the potential long-term impacts of this conflict. By increasing our support for the war, do you think that we could put ourselves at risk of greater impact?
ANGUS TAYLOR:
Well I think that's the point I just made, and Patto might want to comment on this. But the thing is we've already seen attacks supported by Iran, by the IRGC. We've already seen it. So I think it's absolutely essential for us to protect ourselves, our country and the free world against what this regime is seeking to do. I don't know if you want to add?
JAMES PATERSON:
The only thing I'd add briefly is that we're a major importer of processed fuels, refined fuels, and the sooner that straits can be reopened the better, so that that flow can resume, so that oil prices can come down and so that our supply can be guaranteed.
And our contribution does make a tangible contribution to that task by helping identify Iranian missiles and drones before they come into the Gulf so that they can be interdicted and not do any further damage to either shipping or, critically, any energy infrastructure which is rife throughout the Gulf.
JOURNALIST:
Mr Taylor, will you be prepared to tell voters what assets are held by your family trusts before the next election?
ANGUS TAYLOR:
I think I've been very clear about that on the register.
JOURNALIST:
But it's not clear what's held by those family trusts.
ANGUS TAYLOR:
It's very clear on the register.
We'll keep going.
JOURNALIST:
Mr Taylor, and this might be one for Senator Duniam, on the migration amendments. These are quite broad, sweeping changes to the migration system. The Government says it wants to get them through by the end of the week. Do you have any concerns about the timeframe that these laws are going to be passed through Parliament?
JONNO DUNIAM:
Of course changes to the Migration Act need to be taken seriously and we are taking them seriously. I respect Minister Burke's pitch to me about this, given how things might change in the global environment and why such changes might be necessary to our migration system.
Having gone through the legislation, I'm comfortable with the process, the tests that apply, the thresholds, the exclusions and exceptions that exist to provide safety for those who need it.
I feel confident - of course we've got an internal process to go through and we'll go through that, including the Senate inquiry, but it is a relatively straightforward piece of legislation.
Yes, it will make a difference to a number of people who do seek to come here. But I will make the point as well, this legislation, if enacted and the Minister makes a determination to revoke a visa, they are only temporary revocations. It can only be up to six months.
Again, there'll be more detail the Government will offer, but we'll go through our processes.
ANGUS TAYLOR:
I'm conscious of time. We've got a very exciting question time coming up. Very patient up the back there.
JOURNALIST:
Thank you very much. Senator Paterson said in his opening remarks, that when a friend asks you for help you should consider that request. I'd like to ask what limits you would put on that sort of thinking in terms of UAE conflicts.
If the US turns around to us and says we'd like Australian troops, we'd like Australian aircraft to be more directly involved in the offense of Iran, would you support that?
And could I ask you, would you support calls from Tony Abbott, which he made in a blog post over the weekend, saying that Australia should be volunteering command and control aircraft, aerial refuellers and strike fighters?
ANGUS TAYLOR:
Well I'm not going to comment on hypotheticals because we haven't received any of those requests.
What I would say is we should seriously consider requests that are made by our allies to protect the free world against an Iranian regime which is despotic and, as James put it a moment ago, to protect our commercial and economic interests as well…
JOURNALIST:
Should we be volunteering that sort of [inaudible]?
ANGUS TAYLOR:
…We haven't seen of any request beyond the ones that are now public.
I don't know if you want to add to that, James?
JAMES PATERSON:
I think that's fine.
ANGUS TAYLOR:
All right. Jack, very last one.
JOURNALIST:
Mr O'Brien, a question about repatriation. Are you satisfied now that the Government has done enough to repatriate the Australians stranded in the Gulf?
TED O'BRIEN:
There's nothing more important than the safety of Australians and that has been our focus. I think the Government was flat footed from the get go on this. We are nevertheless pleased that repatriation efforts have picked up and we'll keep a watching brief on it.
Thank you very much.
