Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash
Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs
Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
Senator for Western Australia
TRANSCRIPT
Sky News Sharri
7 October 2025
Topics: ISIS brides, October 7 anniversary, antisemitism
E&OE
Sharri Markson
Let’s bring in now Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister Michaelia Cash. Michaelia, good to see you as always. Now the Albanese government is refusing to disclose exactly how many ISIS family members have returned to Australia. Why this cover up?
Senator Cash
Well, Sharri, it was utterly extraordinary scenes in Senate estimates today where we asked Senator Wong for four hours, the most basic questions in relation to the return of the ISIS brides and their children. And instead of providing answers, Senator Wong, on behalf of the Prime Minister, chose silence. This isn’t leadership. This is concealment. And every Australian should tonight be asking themselves, what is the Albanese government hiding? I mean, these are women who made a conscious choice, as you know, Sharri, to leave the great country of Australia and join a death cult. We now know that they are back in Australia, and instead of providing Australians with answers to the most basic of questions, for example, how many ISIS brides have returned? Were security assessments done prior to their return to Australia? What monitoring are these women and their children currently under? But more than that, what is the Albanese government doing Sharri, to keep Australians safe? These women joined a death cult. They are now back in Australia. Instead of showing leadership, they chose concealment. They chose silence. It is an utter disgrace. But I can tell you now, if Senator Wong thinks we’re going to stop our questioning, she is sadly wrong, because tomorrow we have the Department of Home Affairs, the department responsible for the return of the ISIS brides, and we will continue to demand questions and transparency from this government.
Sharri Markson
It’s the most extraordinary thing, like right from the beginning, Albanese denied this in Parliament. I confirmed it that night, they all laughed at me the next day and mocked – you know ‘why are you getting your questions from Sky After Dark’, and it’s true, they’re now here thanks to Herald Sun’s reporting, and yet no answers.
Senator Cash
It is a political cover up, Sharri of incredible proportions, a political cover up.
Sharri Markson
It is indeed. I want to ask you about the October 7 second anniversary. Today, as we speak, there’s a ‘glorify the martyrs’ rally happening in Bankstown, in Tony Burke’s own electorate. Should more have been done to stop this from going ahead, given it glorifies terror?
Senator Cash
Sharri, I’m almost lost for words because I listened to your interview with Eli, and I also met with Danny today. I don’t know what type of country we now live in, where there are protests currently taking place, as you said, but also that are planned for the foot of the Sydney Opera House that are actually glorifying what occurred on October the 7th, two years ago. So let’s be clear, what has been glorified tonight is the slaughter of Jewish people by a terrorist organisation that is dedicated to the destruction of Israel. So let’s be clear, New South Wales is meant to have a permit system in place that allows you to express a political expression, however, not at the expense of safety or security. And too many times now, Sharri, we have seen a failure of that system. So the answer is yes, if these protests are allowed to go ahead, then yes, the laws must be strengthened. Because these people, they are celebrating terrorism. They are glorifying a terrorist group that is, quite frankly, unacceptable in the country that I know to be Australia.
Sharri Markson
So well said, so well spoken. If only we had your strength in government at the moment, I mean, Tony Burke released the statement, but no action. It’s gone ahead tonight, and just everyone at home, the vision you were just watching next to Michaelia, that’s of the protest that’s unfolding tonight in his electorate.
Senator Cash
Can I just say, Sharri, you’ve been going on about this now articulately for two years. This is a government that, as you said, My God, it’s good with words, but judge them by their actions, and by their actions, quite frankly, when it comes to tackling antisemitism in this country, they shall be condemned.
Sharri Markson
Indeed. Michaelia Cash, thank you so much for your time.
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