James O’Doherty: NSW kept in the dark about return on ISIS brides

Despite several attempts to find answers, the NSW Government is none the wiser about what happens next with returning ISIS brides — and who foots the bill, writes James O’Doherty.

The Albanese government’s silence on a secretive plan to bring ISIS brides and their children home from Syrian detention camps has been deafening.

The secrecy was perhaps warranted to protect the security of defence force personnel undertaking dangerous repatriation missions but, now that the first group of women and children have touched down in Sydney, the Prime Minister should be upfront about what, if anything, his government is doing to support them while they are here.

Multiple letters from the state government to the Commonwealth have gone unanswered.

Western Sydney community leaders are furious at the lack of consultation and we still don’t know how much the operation will cost taxpayers in supporting, or monitoring, the families.

Deputy Premier Paul Toole said the state government has “not had a response” to requests for an assurance that the NSW community will be kept safe and for questions about who will pay the bill.

NSW Deputy Premier Paul Toole

“There are agencies that are required to go in and support these families,” he said.

While Anthony Albanese has denied any “political decisions” in bringing the first group of four women and 13 children home to Sydney, Commonwealth officials have as yet failed to respond to their NSW counterparts asking for an assurance that the looming Victorian election played no role in resettling the families here.

Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil was happy to announce the first group of women and children had arrived in Sydney but has refused to provide any clarity on what happens next.

“The NSW Government is providing extensive support services to assist these women and their children with reintegration alongside law enforcement engagement with these families,” she said in a statement on Saturday. That has done little to allay concerns from the likes of Labor’s own Guy Zangari, who broke ranks to call out the fact his community has been left in the dark.

It is notable there is bipartisan support in NSW for the Albanese government to be upfront about what happens next with the women.

“It’s important that local MPs, councils and community groups are consulted at all times,” Labor leader Chris Minns told The Daily Telegraph.

NSW Labor leader Chris Minns.

Rather than hide behind the guise of “national security advice,” Albanese should at least be seeking to explain to concerned Assyrians that these women pose no harm.

In its attempts to establish a caliphate, ISIS destroyed Assyrians’ historical, cultural and religious heritage and forced hundreds of thousands of Assyrian Christians to flee their homes. “ISIS raped our women and burned down our churches and homes,” Fairfield’s deputy dayor, Assyrian Reni Barkho, said.

Minister O’Neil had little to say yesterday about what Commonwealth agencies are helping the women, who is paying and whether she would meet with community groups.

Minister for Home Affairs Clare O'Neil.

“At all times our focus has been the safety and security of all Australians. This decision was informed by national security advice and we will continue to act on that advice,’’ she said.

“Any individuals who return to Australia will continue to be assessed by the AFP and their partners.”

This is a sensitive issue, as much for the safety of the women and children abandoned by ISIS as the communities in which they have been resettled.

The Federal Government cannot continue to ignore it in the hope that it will go away.