ISIS brides: Home Affairs minister Clare O’Neil meets with western Sydney mayors

David Elliott has unleashed on the Federal Home Affairs minister for not “bothering” to invite him to a meeting with western Sydney mayors over the settlement of ISIS brides in the area.

David Elliott has unleashed on the Federal Home Affairs minister for not “bothering” to invite him to a meeting with western Sydney mayors over the settlement of ISIS brides in the area.

“I’m a bit miffed that Clare O’Neil is meeting with western Sydney Mayors about ISIS Brides - albeit dragged kicking and screaming - but didn’t bother asking the Minister for Western Sydney - who just happens to be the former Minister for Counter Terrorism,” he said.

“Here is a woman from extreme Melbourne privilege who dumped extremists into unsuspecting communities as far away from her electorate as is possible.

“Western Sydney is the last place these extremists should be accommodated given the demographic of the population. We have absolutely no assurances that these families have been de radicalised nor have we been given information about what roles they had within ISIS. This is political arrogance at its worst.”

Home Affairs Minister Clare O Neil enters Fairfield council chambers. Picture John Grainger

Mr Elliott, who is also the Veterans Minister, said he remained concerned about the way contemporary veterans and their families will feel about the Government allowing “former adversaries” to “literally move in next door”.

“Ms O’Neil should have engaged with these mayors before the decision.”

Ms O’Neil remained tight lipped about exactly where the families were settled and did not reveal how strictly they are being monitored, but said the meeting cleared up “misconceptions”.

“We’ve had a really good collaborative conversation and have walked out of that meeting with a better understanding of eachother’s points of view - we aren’t going to agree on everything,” she said.

“Communities across the country are entitled to talk to us about these matters and we are obliged to hear and listen to those views.”

Angry.... David Elliott Picture: Richard Dobson

Ms O’Neil said expert counterterrorism and security personnel also attended the meeting with the mayors.

“I hope that shows the mayors and the communities here how seriously we take their concerns,” she said.

“The Australian government has a choice - we can bring these people back to Australia in a managed way where we can make sure the community is kept safe or we can see these people return after a bunch of Australian children have grown up in a camp where they are subjected every day to radical ideologies that tell them to hate their country.”

The minister and the federal member Chris Bowen both attacked the Coalition for secrecy surrounding the repatriation of a handful of children in 2019.

“As opposed to that veil of secrecy that Peter Dutton presided over ... this minister has been more transparent than any other home affairs minister in the last few years,” Mr Bowen said.

Australian women and children at the Al-Hawl camp in northeast Syria. Picture: Supplied

Fairfield Mayor Frank Carbone said it was a “open, honest and robust” conversation.

“The minister took our point of understanding the real victims here are the refugees who fled ISIS and I made it clear that she should be required to take into account their feelings,” he said.

“It’s been really clear to me that after this discussion that Western Sydney will not be used as a dumping ground, which is great news for our community.”

Liverpool Mayor Ned Mannoun said while the meeting cleared up some concerns, there are still more questions than answers.

“What we have been told is there are numerous amounts of Australian citizens being held in the Syrian regime for laws broken in Syria,” he said.

“We are told once they are released the government can do nothing to stop them coming to Australia, that’s quite significant and raises many concerns.

“When we ask the question, have they committed a crime, we were told they cannot be charged unless there is enough evidence, so the reality is that these people who have gone there and supported ISIS, whether they have committed a crime.

“We have a massive security concern that these people will come back and settle here.”