Senator Michaelia Cash
Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs
Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
Friday 5 December 2025
Topics: ISIS brides, Tony Burke, mass migration, new Teals movement
E&OE
Danica De Giorgio
I’m joined by Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs Michaelia Cash. Senator, nice to see you. Thanks for joining me. Let’s start with the ISIS brides saga. Tony Burke is still silent on what occurred in that June meeting with charity Save the Children, which had been helping get the ISIS brides back to Australia. I know that you tried very hard in Senate estimates months ago when it was revealed that the brides had already arrived here, you tried to get a straight answer from Labor to no avail. Now these revelations, what does the public deserve to know here about what occurred?
Senator Cash
Well, Danica, the obvious answer is that the public deserve the truth from both the Prime Minister and Tony Burke. I say that sarcastically, though, because you and I both know the Albanese government has almost become incapable in most areas of policy, in telling the truth. But these are the facts. Tony Burke had a secret meeting with Save the Children in relation to the return of the ISIS brides and kicked out the note taker, and yet now refuses to tell the Australian people what actually happened in that meeting. I mean, you don’t get to have it both ways, and you now have the department saying, well, actually, Tony Burke said that he would find a way to bring those ISIS brides home. I mean, Tony Burke’s explanation, Danica no longer passes the pub test. These were not backpackers stranded overseas. These were the wives of ISIS terrorists, men who had committed some of the most grotesque atrocities this world has ever seen. So Tony Burke has a secret meeting, kicks out the note taker. You don’t kick out the note taker, Danica, unless you don’t want it on the books. Doesn’t tell the Australian people what went on. And you now have the notes. I have them here from the departmental Secretary that say this: Got to find a way. Politics harder at this end of term. Public pressure makes it harder. Get this – the success of the first cohort will be great after we’ve got them home. So for Tony Burke to sit back and not actually now tell Australians what actually occurred in this secret meeting. Why you threw the note taker out? What have you got too hide – it doesn’t pass the pub test.
Danica De Giorgio
No, it doesn’t. The fact they are talking about the success of the first cohort. And you’re right. These women left Australia, they betrayed our values when they left here to go on this Jihad romance. And we deserve to know what role Labor played in this effort to get them back here. So no, I think you’re spot on and just on that point, because these ISIS brides, they don’t represent our values. Which leads me on to the next topic of migration. Now Sussan Ley has promised that a plan will be announced before Christmas, albeit with no figure as such, to reduce overseas migration. Moderate, Liberal Senator Andrew McLaughlin has condemned what he says is inflammatory and irresponsible language, particularly pertaining to the phrase mass migration. Now, Senator, you’ve been very strong on migration, and this whole issue. Is the term mass migration inflammatory in your view?
Senator Cash
I don’t believe it is. No in fact, you can call it what you like. These are the facts. The Albanese Labor government brought in 1 million people over a period of two years in the middle of both a housing crisis and a cost of living crisis. This is not about attacking migrants. We are one of the most successful multi cultural nations in the world. This is squarely about the failure of the Albanese government’s migration policy. They’ve turned on the migration tap. They haven’t put in place the appropriate infrastructure. Too many people in too short a time. Danica the Australian people do not need to be lectured about terminology. They live the reality of Labor’s too many people in a short period of time, every single day, they look at their rent, they look at their mortgage, they look at the fact that their kids, or even them, cannot get into a house. We are a country that welcomes migrants. We do it with open arms, but at the same time, we need to be adult enough to be able to have a sincere conversation about the fact that this government has brought in too many people too quickly, and it is having a detrimental impact on the Australian people. I’m a pretty plain speaker Danica, and quite frankly, it’s as simple as that.
Danica De Giorgio
Well, that’s it, and you’re right. The problem is not with migration. We are a nation of migrants. The problem is with mass migration. We have had too many people come into this country under Labor, and we continue to do so. That is the problem. There is nothing inflammatory or nothing wrong about it. I do hope we get to a point where we can have a proper debate about it. Senator, an interesting story in the AFR today that momentum is building among disaffected Liberals and TEALS for a new centre right movement. There are concerns by some who spoke to the paper anonymously that the Liberal Party is becoming irretrievable as a force thanks to a conservative takeover, and the last straw was the net zero decision. What do you make of this?
Senator Cash
Well, in the first instance, I had to laugh, because I’ve never heard a Teal be called as someone from the centre right. So I found that most amusing. What I would say is this, at the end of the day, the Liberal Party and the National Party as the Coalition are the only serious alternative to Labor. We are not irretrievable. What we do need to do, though, is put those policies – give the Australian people what I like to call a potent political choice. We have done that in relation to energy. We have dumped it – it’s gone. I hope never to be seen again – the disastrous Net Zero policy. So the Australian people now have a choice: Labor who worship the net zero number. They couldn’t give a toss Danica about the impact on mum and dad Australia – or the Coalition, who will put Australians first. We will put your job first. We will put your energy security first. But more than that, we will put the costs you pay on a daily basis first. That is a true political choice. As you’ve also alluded to we will shortly release our immigration principles. And I assure you under Senator Jonathan Duniam, who is doing an utterly outstanding job, this is going to again be a potent political difference. And Australians will have a choice. Two big issues, energy, potent political difference, immigration, potent political difference. That’s what the Liberal party need to offer to the Australian people.
Danica De Giorgio
Yeah, absolutely. A clear difference is needed. Michaelia Cash, great to catch up as always, thanks so much for joining me on the show.
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