Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash
Shadow Attorney-General
Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
Senator for Western Australia
1 March 2026
Sky News with Danica De Giorgio
Topics: US attack on Iran, Australian government response, Australians in the Middle East
Danica De Giorgio
I’m now joined by Shadow Attorney-General, Michaelia Cash. Now, Senator, really good to catch up with you on this very important day. Firstly, your reaction to this historic moment?
Senator Cash
Well, Danica, the man who bankrolled terror and slaughtered his own people, is finally gone. This is an historic turning point, not just for the people of Iran, but for the people of the world. He was, without a doubt, one of the most evil people in living history. And I have to say this now presents a real opportunity for Iranians to embrace freedom and a new way of governing themselves. I do acknowledge, though, what Angus Taylor so articulately said, in relation to this once in a lifetime opportunity. It only came about because of the moral clarity and the decisiveness of both the United States and Israel, clear allies of Australia. But also their combined military strength and the bravery of their defence forces. And certainly the question going forward now is where to from here, because President Trump has given the IRGC a very clear choice. If you escalate, as they are currently doing, you will face overwhelming consequences or and the or, I thought was very fair. Lay down your arms, step back and let the Iranian people finally determine their own future. But again, an historic day, the man who bankrolled terror even here in Australia, overseas and slaughtered his own people is gone. What a great opportunity Danica for the Iranian people to finally pursue freedom.
Danica De Giorgio
Absolutely. I mean, they’ve been under such oppression since 1979 and we saw the vision of them dancing in the streets. I mean, this is exactly what they wanted. But you raise a good point. What happens now? And this really is key, because I think many would be praying that this does mean genuine liberation, but we still don’t know. Could Australia be dragged into any conflict do you think in the event that an air route, which is the US and Israel have gone down, is not enough? I mean, should the US then opt for troops on the ground? Could we be dragged in?
Senator Cash
Well, I think Donald Trump, at this point in time has made it clear in the first instance, this is a military airstrike and Naval strike. That is it. There is no suggestion at this point in time that there will be troops on the ground. And I think that Andrew Hastie summed it up this morning in terms of what is Australia’s responsibility at this point in time. It is to ensure the safety of Australians and our Defence Force personnel overseas. But of course, we have a strategic role separate to a boots on the ground role, and that is to continue to ensure that we are providing whatever intelligence we can to our allies to strengthen sanctions if we need to, and to do everything that we can to identify and stop any form of foreign interference here on Australian soil. But in particular, after talking to members of the Iranian community here in Australia, Danica and you can’t begin to understand, can we how they feel today? We must ensure that they know that they are at all times, protected.
Danica De Giorgio
Yeah, I mean, just even the celebrations across the country, it’s just been, it has been wonderful to see. I want to ask you about Labor’s response to this. Penny Wong called talks between the US and Iran. Instead, she’s calling for de-escalation, diplomacy and dialog. These are similar statements that she made after October 7. I’ve got to ask, because what is there to talk about here? How could Iran have ever been trusted in the first place? And as you and I have been discussing, this is actually what the majority of Iranians wanted.
Senator Cash
Well, it’s a very good question. What is there to talk about? And the issue is not talks, Danica. Talks have been going on with Iran for decades. It’s not a lack of talk. It’s not a lack of dialog. The issue has always been the failure to actually undertake behavioural change by Iran. There were talks last week, with the President of the United States. The issue we have had is over these decades and decades of talks, what has Iran continued to do? It has continued to export terror overseas. It has continued to pursue uranium enrichment. But worse than that, and most recently, it has continued to slaughter its own people for wanting the one thing that we have each and every day, and that is, of course, freedom. So let’s put aside the talks. Any talks going forward need to be firmly focused on the future of the new Iran, the future of a new government, but more than that, what a free Iran will look like. And as Angus Taylor today said, what welcoming a free Iran to our world actually means?
Danica De Giorgio
Yeah, look absolutely in the last few hours, Iran has said that it would retaliate, and we know that overnight, it has been attacking Gulf states, even a missile hit Dubai International Airport. Have a look at this. Look just on that though. I mean, Iran is threatening more retaliatory strikes. What is your advice now to Australians in the region?
Senator Cash
Well, I think, like so many in Australia, we have been contacted today, in particular by Australians who are currently in Dubai. Very clear advice to them, please follow DFAT advice to the absolute letter. Please ensure that you are registered with Smart Traveler and stay close to what the Australian authorities are saying you need to do. But I also have a very clear message to Penny Wong and the government – you need to ensure that the consular services are surged and are prepared. This is not something that was expected, but it is something that now we need to ensure there is capacity on the ground. Because I am myself getting overwhelmed with people texting me from Dubai, saying: What do we do in relation to the IRGC and Iran’s retaliation? Not unexpected, in fact, it’s a pattern of behavior. This is what they do. But I think again, President Trump, in his speech yesterday and again in comments today, has been very, very clear, he has laid down a clear choice to the IRGC. You either escalate and you will face consequences that are overwhelming, or and the or is what we all hope they choose, take a step back, lay down your arms, and for once, let the Iranian people finally determine and choose their own free future.
Danica De Giorgio
Absolutely and the US has already warned that if Iran does take any retaliatory action, then there will certainly be hell to pay. I just want to ask you about that pathway now, to democracy. There has been some suggestions that maybe Iran goes down the Shah route, like it used to, to have a Shah as the head. But, I mean, this is still really risky times, isn’t it, because I don’t think that liberation is a sure thing. I mean, is it too premature to even suggest that at this point?
Senator Cash
I think what’s fascinating today to sort of listen to commentators all day talking about what happens next. Nobody quite yet knows what is going to happen next. What we do want to see, though, is Iran move to being a free country like it used to be, and you showed those pictures of Iran before the revolution. That is what we want to see. But over the next, you know, hours and days, the IRGC have a clear decision to make, and President Trump and Israel have made it incredibly clear, if you do not lay day on your arms and take a step back, you will be faced with overwhelming consequences. So there is a clear choice to be made at this point in time? Do they take that choice and lay down their arms and take a step back at this point in time? It doesn’t appear to be the path they’re going down, but certainly where we all want to head. And we’ve always said this is as a Coalition: we should never impose onto Iran a future government. It is now for the Iranian people, once they are free from the terror and the tyranny of the IRGC, to move towards a free country and a free government, but of their own choosing.
Danica De Giorgio
And look, fingers crossed. It gets there. Michaelia Cash, we’ve got to leave it there. I appreciate your time on what is such a historic day for not only Iran, but for the world. Thanks very much for joining me.
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