Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee, , 4:06:58 to 4:08:48
Discussion on whether the government or third parties are facilitating the repatriation of remaining individuals from conflict zones to Australia.
Topics: National security, Human rights, International law
Speakers: Hon Jonathon Duniam, Brendan Dowling, Stephanie Foster
Okay. Um has with regard to the remaining uh female and her child, as is there any effort underway by third parties or any correspondence with government that you're aware of relating to the repatriation of those individuals to Australia?
So the Australian government has no direct involvement relating to uh those individuals travelling to Australia. I'm again not personally aware of any current efforts to arrange any sort of uh repatriation. No.
Okay, so do has any contact been made? So you said, Mr. Dowling, uh, that you reference travelling to Australia. Is it your understanding they are anticipating travel to Australia imminently?
No, that is not my understanding. Okay.
Uh so uh I then want to ask um has any communication been received by the department in relation to these individuals and efforts that might be being made to assist their repatriation? So meeting occurred with individuals or with the minister?
Uh we for all Australians of counter-terrorism interest overseas, we maintain through our interagency bodies a degree of uh uh awareness or information sharing uh that might tell us what people's whereabouts or intentions are, but no, none of those uh arrangements go to meetings with uh people or third parties in relation to potential travel arrangements.
So to go to the spirit of your question, Senator, the answer is no.
Okay. And that includes with the minister and his office?
To my knowledge, Senator.