Today’s email is brought to you by Empower your podcasting vision with a suite of creative solutions at your fingertips.
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has accused the Albanese government of failing its first duty to keep Australians safe, blasting its handling of released immigration detainees, the repatriation of women linked to Islamic State, and the presence of former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews at a Chinese military parade.
Speaking on Sky News First Edition, Ley said Labor’s repeated attempts to fix the fallout from the High Court’s NZYQ ruling — which forced the release of dozens of non-citizen detainees, some with serious criminal records — had cost taxpayers heavily without guaranteeing safety.
“This is a massive expenditure by the government to fix up a mess of their own making,” Ley said. “This is about the fifth time the government has tried to fix this situation with respect to the NZYQ cohort. They committed crimes, they were locked up, they were let out, they committed more crimes. We don’t want them in the country, but we really do want Labor to get this right because their first duty is to keep Australians safe.”
Calls for Detention Powers
Ley accused Immigration Minister Andrew Giles of failing to use existing powers to protect communities.
“Right now there is a preventative detention regime that the minister could use, that he hasn’t used, that could actually take people off the streets and keep our communities safe,” she said. “So this is a massive fail by this government.”
Asked whether she supported sending the former detainees offshore, potentially to Nauru, Ley said the Coalition backed any measure that kept the public safe.
“We support what keeps our communities safe, Pete. And if that includes sending them offshore, that is part of that,” she said. “But I want to draw your viewers’ attention to the incredible fail of this government with respect to their primary task, which is keeping Australians safe, and they just haven’t done that.”
Truth matters. Quality journalism costs.
Your subscription to Mencari directly funds the investigative reporting our democracy needs. For less than a coffee per week, you enable our journalists to uncover stories that powerful interests would rather keep hidden. There is no corporate influence involved. No compromises. Just honest journalism when we need it most.
Not ready to be paid subscribe, but appreciate the newsletter ? Grab us a beer or snag the exclusive ad spot at the top of next week's newsletter.
Clash Over ISIS Brides
The deputy opposition leader also turned her fire on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese over conflicting statements about the repatriation of Australian women and children linked to the Islamic State group.
During question time, Albanese rejected reports that officials were involved in resettling the so-called ISIS brides. But later that evening, the New South Wales Police Commissioner confirmed officers were assisting.
“It looks like it, Pete,” Ley said when asked if the prime minister had misled Parliament. “Good work by Shari Markson on Sky actually revealed… yesterday in question time, the Prime Minister stepped away and suggested that any of this was happening at all. By the evening, the New South Wales Police Commissioner had actually said, no, that’s not the case, that work is going on.”
Ley said Australians deserved honesty. “If the Prime Minister can’t tell the truth over this issue, how can Australians trust him on national security?” she said.
Pressed on whether Albanese was merely using careful wording, Ley said: “The point here is not necessarily the to and fro, but is the Prime Minister actually acknowledging, explaining and telling the truth here? These are people who left this country with hate in their hearts to join a terrorist regime that had at its heart the destruction of Australian values.”
She added: “We need to know at a minimum if they are returning and if they are, whether our agencies will be in a position to arrest them for breaking Australian laws by leaving to participate in this evil cult.”
Anger at Andrews’ China Visit
Ley also condemned former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews for attending a parade in Beijing where China showcased its military strength.
“Anthony Albanese needs to demonstrate some moral clarity here and actually call out Daniel Andrews for being just a few feet away from dictators and despots at a Chinese parade that the Chinese Communist Party demonstrated its military strength,” she said.
Asked if the appearance amounted to treachery, Ley said: “Some would call it that. And I honestly think the organisations that have relationships, business relationships with Mr Andrews, need to reconsider their positions. It’s a stain on his character.”
Ley urged the prime minister to speak out. “We need to have a statement of moral clarity from the Prime Minister that to see his great friend be so close to dictators and despots at an event hosted by the Chinese Communist Party, which is a military show of strength to the West, that does need comment from our Prime Minister,” she said.
Criticism of Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan
Ley also questioned the timing of current Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan’s trip to China with a trade delegation.
“She’s taking a delegation of backbenchers. The Victorian public will make their mind up about whether this is a junket,” Ley said. “I think most of them would say she really has a lot going on in her home state of Victoria and the people of Victoria are hurting with the cost-of-living crisis that is really bad in that state, and that’s where her attention should be right now.”
Migration Remarks and Indian Community
The Coalition has faced scrutiny after Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price suggested migrants from India were being brought in to boost Labor’s vote, a claim she later retracted.
Ley said Price had “corrected those comments” and reiterated the Coalition’s commitment to a non-discriminatory migration policy.
“Our migration policy, longstanding, bipartisan, is non-discriminatory,” she said. “But I want to make this point: every day that I’m opposition leader, I’m fighting for every single Australian, no matter where you came from.”
She praised the contribution of Indian Australians. “Our Australian Indian community are amazing. You contribute as Australian Indians so much to our country. We know how hard you work, your family values and the contribution you make across this country. And as opposition leader, I value that incredibly.”
Asked if Labor would weaponize the comments in the next election, Ley replied: “Labor will carry on in the way that they do, and I will leave that to them. What we’re here for is to fight every single day for every Australian. Because we know that the values of the Liberal Party — aspiration, hard work, reward for effort, and building this community in this country — are something that will resonate in a serious, credible, compelling agenda.”
Broader Implications
Ley’s remarks highlight how national security and foreign policy remain flashpoints in domestic politics. The opposition has repeatedly attacked Labor over its handling of released detainees and the repatriation of ISIS families, while using Andrews’ appearance in Beijing to question the government’s stance toward China.
With Victoria battling economic challenges and the federal government facing questions on security, Ley signaled the Coalition would continue pressing its case on safety and trust.
“We stand ready through this Senate inquiry process to work with the government to help them get their laws right,” she said. “This is about the fifth opportunity they’ve had.”
Got a News Tip?
Contact our editor via Proton Mail encrypted, X Direct Message, LinkedIn, or email. You can securely message him on Signal by using his username, Miko Santos.
Sustaining Mencari Requires Your Support
Independent journalism costs money. Help us continue delivering in-depth investigations and unfiltered commentary on the world's real stories. Your financial contribution enables thorough investigative work and thoughtful analysis, all supported by a dedicated community committed to accuracy and transparency.
Subscribe today to unlock our full archive of investigative reporting and fearless analysis. Subscribing to independent media outlets represents more than just information consumption—it embodies a commitment to factual reporting.
As well as knowing you’re keeping Mencari (Australia) alive, you’ll also get:
Get breaking news AS IT HAPPENS - Gain instant access to our real-time coverage and analysis when major stories break, keeping you ahead of the curve
Unlock our COMPLETE content library - Enjoy unlimited access to every newsletter, podcast episode, and exclusive archive—all seamlessly available in your favorite podcast apps.
Join the conversation that matters - Be part of our vibrant community with full commenting privileges on all content, directly supporting The Evening Post (Australia)
Catch up on some of Mencari’s recent stories:
It only takes a minute to help us investigate fearlessly and expose lies and wrongdoing to hold power accountable. Thanks!