00:00Thank you, President. My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Wong.
00:04Minister, at Senate Estimates hearings on 12 February, during an exchange on the subject of
00:09so-called ISIS brides, you said, and I quote, Australian citizens have various entitlements
00:14which are not discretionary under law, and no government is able to make them discretionary,
00:19end quote. Is it true that, as Foreign Minister, you have no discretion under current law to
00:25refuse to issue a passport under any circumstances? I thank you, Senator Paterson. Minister Wong.
00:31I have made clear already in this place, it is possible for the Foreign Minister to refuse or
00:38cancel a passport on security grounds. This will be the fifth time. If a competent authority
00:46requests it. What I have said is that ASIO and other competent authorities have not made such a
01:04request. Thank you, Minister. Senator Paterson, first supplementary.
01:08Thank you, President. Minister, Section 9 of the Australian Passports Act states that a Minister
01:13may issue emergency documents. Furthermore, the entitlement to a passport outlined in Section 7
01:19is qualified in Section 8, which requires, quote, the Minister to be satisfied of a person's
01:25citizenship and identity. Can the Minister confirm if the passports or travel documents issued to the
01:3134 so-called ISIS brides and their families were authorised under Section 9?
01:36Thank you, Senator Paterson. Our Minister, sorry. Thank you. It remains a legal entitlement for Australian
01:44citizens to be issued an Australian passport if they meet eligibility requirements. So that is the
01:55position. As you know, Senator, I am not in a position—you may have asked questions about these set estimates—nor was
02:12the
02:12Department to answer specific questions about specific individuals. I think the Department went through why that is the case.
02:22Order. But what I would say is that—oh.
02:30Senator Rustin, come to order. Minister Wong, do you wish to continue?
02:37Does Senator Rustin want me to respond, or would she like to? I know that she hasn't got much—
02:42Thank you, Minister. The time for answering has now expired. Senator Paterson, second supplementary.
02:48Mr. Minister, section 14 of the Passport Act states, and I quote,
02:53if a Compton Authority suspects on reasonable grounds that if an Australian travel document were issued to
02:57a person, the person would be likely to engage in conduct that might prejudice the security of
03:02Australia or a foreign country, the person should be refused an Australian travel document in order to
03:09prevent the person from engaging in that conduct. In your four years as Foreign Minister, how many
03:14passports have you refused or cancelled under section 14?
03:17Thank you. Senator Paterson. Minister Wong.
03:21That is the section that I have been referencing now in numerous questions, and no such request was
03:29made in relation to the group that you are referencing. In relation to other matters, I act as Foreign Minister
03:40under that section on the basis of any advice provided by Compton Authority, which in general is ASIO and AFP.
03:48Senator, I am not in a position—you should not ask me—
03:51Minister Wong, please resume your seat. Senator Paterson.
03:53On direct relevance, President, I have asked the Minister how many
03:57passports were refused or cancelled under the section of the Act.
04:00The Minister is being relevant to your question, Senator Paterson. Minister Wong.
04:04I mean, the extent to which those opposite are irresponsible, that you would actually ask
04:13questions about the advice of security agencies. I act on the advice of security agencies. I act on the
04:20advice of security agencies. And if you want—you have been on PJ SIS, you have been on the committee,
04:28Senator. If you want a confidential briefing on classified matters, I will provide it.
04:34Did you hear what I said? If you want a confidential briefing on classified matters, I will provide it.
04:40Minister Wong, the time for answering has expired. Order. Order. That was extremely loud and disrespectful.
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