Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash
Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs
Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
Senator for Western Australia
TRANSCRIPT
Sky News with Sharri Markson
26 August 2025
Topics: Iran Ambassador expelled; IRGC terrorism listing
E&OE
Sharri Markson
I want to go to Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister Michaelia Cash. Michaelia, thank you for coming on again. Was the Albanese government reckless and even negligent in failing to list the IRGC as a terrorist organization earlier?
Senator Cash
Well, let’s be very clear, Sharri – state sponsored terror by the Islamic Republic of Iran, has now come to Australia. And it was all well and good for Mr. Albanese to go out there today and announce that his government was going to list the Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization. But he also should have apologized to Australians for not heeding the Opposition’s calls over two and a half years ago when we told him this should be done. Where was Mr. Albanese being up front with the Australian people today and saying to them two and a half years ago when the Opposition told me I needed to list this organization as a terrorist organization, my government said, no. Here’s the proof – recommendation from the committee report. Government we will not be adopting. And then worse, this is a letter from Penny Wong, Mark Dreyfus and Claire O’Neill, June 2024, explaining in weasel words why the Albanese government would refuse to work with the Opposition to list the Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization. And now, where are we today, state sponsored terror on Australian soil. Let’s be clear, people could have died Sharri. This is a regime that does not share our values. They fund Hezbollah and Hamas and wake up Australia. They could have killed Australians.
Sharri Markson
Exactly, exactly your message – you are so right. That is such a strong message. We also heard the ASIO boss, Mike Burgess, very clear. He says that Iran could be behind other antisemitic attacks as well. They’re still investigating. How concerned are you about the extent of this foreign influence that’s clearly undermining social cohesion.
Senator Cash
Well, I am incredibly concerned, and in particular given that two and a half years ago, the Senator Claire Chandler report, as I have shown you, clearly made a recommendation to the government. But I also want to read out for your viewers, because it’s about time Australians understood who those people are. This is what the Iranian Revolutionary Guard are, Sharri. Their goal is to protect Iran’s Islamic revolution and its achievements and relentlessly struggle to realize the divine ideals and get this spread the law of God in accordance with the Islamic Republic of Iran’s laws. Senator Claire Chandler, two and a half years ago, recommended, on behalf of the Opposition, based on evidence directly taken from the diaspora here in Australia. Mr Albanese you need to be very clear to the Australian people now why your government, two and a half years ago, refused to heed the calls from the Opposition and do what was needed at the time and now, state sponsored terror on Australian soil. And the summer of antisemitism – we now know Shari that Jewish Australians were under attack from the Islamic Republic of Iran. I don’t know how much worse it can get for Jewish Australians.
Sharri Markson
Terrifying. And what makes it even worse is that we had our Sky News antisemitism summit in February. The federal government didn’t want to know about our recommendations. Then Jillian Segal’s report a couple of months ago. Again, it’s all on ice, you know, and yet the Prime Minister stands up today claiming to care about this issue. I mean, he’s done nothing.
Senator Cash
Can I just say on that Sharri – the Prime Minister loves a good round table. He’s had a three day talkfest, and all he got out of that one was higher taxes. But if the Prime Minister was dinkum, he’d pick up the phone to you tomorrow and to other leading Jewish Australians and say, get into Parliament House, Canberra, I’ve got the Sky report. I’ve got the Segal report, and we’re going to work out how we can start to implement it tomorrow. I don’t know how much worse it can get, state sponsored terror via a country. And as Julian Leeser said, they do not share Australian values. Hezbollah, Hamas dedicated to the eradication of Israel. Hezbollah also dedicated to the eradication of the US. Guess what? The US and Israel share our values. Again, wake up Mr. Albanese and wake up Australia.
Sharri Markson
No, exactly. Michaelia Cash, incredibly strong. Thank you so much for your time, for coming on the program.
Senator Cash
Great to be with you.
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