Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash
Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs
Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
Senator for Western Australia
8 OCTOBER 2025
ALBANESE GOVERNMENT KNEW ABOUT ISIS BRIDES’ RETURN IN JUNE
The Albanese Labor Government was briefed in June about the intention of the ISIS brides to return to Australia.
In a Senate Estimates hearing on Wednesday night the Australian Federal Police revealed they had briefed Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke’s office on or about June 6 about the ISIS brides and their children who are now back in Australia.
Under questioning from Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, Senator Michaelia Cash, AFP officials said they updated Minister Burke’s office on September 23, to advise them of the cohort’s return date of September 26.
The AFP further updated Mr Burke on September 29, after the ISIS brides had arrived in Australia.
Estimates had been told earlier by Home Affairs officials that two ISIS brides and four children came to Australia on September 26.
Until today Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Minister Burke, Foreign Minister Penny Wong and other Government Ministers had continually refused to confirm if any ISIS brides had recently returned to Australia.
The AFP also revealed that they were conducting an ongoing investigation into the entire ISIS brides cohort.
The investigation was looking at possible offences of terrorism, foreign incursion offences, and crimes against humanity.
“The Albanese Government’s big cover-up has now spectacularly unravelled,’’ Senator Cash said.
“It is clear that this Government has deceived the Australian people about when and what they knew about the return of the ISIS brides and their children,’’ she said.
“The reality is the Albanese Government has known about this since June but refused to tell the Australian people about it,’’ Senator Cash said.
“This has gone from a cover-up to a scandal,’’ Senator Cash said.
ENDS
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