Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash
Shadow Attorney-General
Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
Senator for Western Australia
3 March 2026
Today Show
Topics: War in the Middle East; Sermons in support of Ayatollah
Sarah Abo
Joining us to discuss today’s headlines is Employment and Workplace Relations Minister Amanda Rishworth and Liberal Senator Michaelia Cash, good to see you both this morning. Amanda, I’ll start with you. So Trump is anticipating this war to go for four or five weeks. He actually said this morning, it might extend beyond that. What does this mean for Australia’s involvement?
Amanda Rishworth
Well, firstly, I would say that I’m not going to try and predict what America and Israel will do. Obviously, we have supported the strikes to ensure that Iran –
Sarah Abo
Does that mean, Amanda, can I just double check on that? Does that mean that Australia is not receiving any intelligence from our allies about their next actions?
Amanda Rishworth
Well, what we’re saying is we’re not privy, we are not central to the Middle East war. So we’re not central to this war, and we are not a key player in this. So it is a matter for the US and Israel. We have supported these strikes to stop Iran having the capability for a nuclear weapon and the threatening nature to international peace, which they’ve been involved in, but –
Sarah Abo
So you’re in the dark when it comes to their plans, even though we’re allies?
Amanda Rishworth
Well, what I’m saying is that we are not a player. We are not a major player in the Middle East.
Sarah Abo
I’m not asking about that though.
Amanda Rishworth
Well, I’m not going to be discussing intelligence information, but what I’m saying is we’re not a major player in this conflict, and we don’t expect to be involved in these strikes. Of course, what we actually want to see is dialogue, and we don’t want to see this turn into a regional conflict. And in addition to that, our first and foremost focus is actually the security of Australians in the region. That’s our first and foremost focus.
Sarah Abo
I guess they’ve tried dialogue, and then Trump launched those attacks anyway, and now the Iranians are saying they won’t engage in any more negotiations. So Michaelia, Trump also indicated this morning that he hasn’t ruled out putting American troops on the ground in Iran. Where should the Australian Government stand on this? Should we consider sending boots to the Gulf and the Arab region?
Senator Cash
Well, at this point in time, that is not a question for the Australian Government. But let’s be very clear here, the man who bankrolled terror and slaughtered his own people is gone. That is a good thing. President Trump has given the IRGC a very clear choice. You are a brutal regime. You can either take a step back, lay down your arms and let the Iranian people choose their own free, democratic future, or and unfortunately, the or means a sustained attack with severe consequences. Nobody here Sarah wants a long war, but let us be very, very clear, this is the one chance the Iranian people have for freedom. And I pray to God, they get that. But can I just put another topic on the table? Because overnight here in Australia, we now have reports that there are mosques streaming sermons celebrating the death of this brutal dictator. I want to hear today strong condemnation from the Albanese government. This is completely inappropriate. Sarah, the IRGC is a listed terrorist organisation in Australia.
Amanda Rishworth
Michaelia, let’s be really clear –
Senator Cash
Any suggestion, no, no. Any suggestion here, just hold on. This is domestic politics. Any suggestion here that there are people who are praising this brutal dictator and suggesting support for this regime? I hope our authorities are clearly monitoring what is going on here domestically, because that is my worry at this point.
Amanda Rishworth
Before you get involved in politics and make politics out of that, the Prime Minister could not have been clearer condemning the celebration of this brutal dictator’s life. He has been very clear. And of course, our security agencies, we have absolute faith in our security agencies to monitor any activity here in Australia. So please don’t make politics –
Senator Cash
I have no faith in you, Amanda.
Amanda Rishworth
– of national security and –
Senator Cash
Your response to October 7, 2023 was an utter disgrace.
Amanda Rishworth
The Prime Minister has already – Oh, please.
Senator Cash
Condemnation is one thing Amanda. We now have a Royal Commission –
Amanda Rishworth
He was a brutal dictator –
Senator Cash
– into the Bondi terrorist attack –
Sarah Abo
Listen – if I could just cut in for a second. Obviously we’ve seen this happen yesterday, so we are reacting to it, and it’s, as Amanda points out, the Prime Minister has already condemned it. So it’s just whether or not there’s follow up action. So we’ll see what the days have in store for us on that front, because something does need to happen. We can’t be celebrating the fall of the dictator, who we all agree will not be mourned. Just to your point as well, Michaelia, you know you mentioned that this is a time now for the Iranian people to elect their own leader. We know that’s just not going to happen. I mean, the authorities in Iran have saying that they will have a new Supreme Leader within days. So has all this action been in vain then?
Senator Cash
There is one chance for freedom, and this is it. Dialogue, that you mentioned before, Amanda, and both Penny Wong has mentioned, has been going on for decades, and the dialogue has produced nothing. What is now needed is behavioural change.
Sarah Abo
Does that mean that the Western powers have to introduce it, because it’s not going to happen on the ground that the people of Tehran simply do not have the means.
Senator Cash
Obviously there’s a long way to play out, but in the first instance, as I said, President Trump has made it very clear that brutal regime now has a choice. You can continue to escalate. And he has said, he’s again said overnight, the next wave has not even started. They will pay a heavy price, and so they should. But for the Iranian people here in Australia, we support you. This is your one chance for freedom, and we support you in that.
Sarah Abo
All right, we’ve run out of time. Let’s hope there is a peaceful outcome here, as far away as that may seem at the moment. Thank you both so much for your time this morning.
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