HAMISH MACDONALD, HOST: First, though, we are going to take you straight to the Prime Minister this morning. There is mounting pressure on the Federal Government over the return of this cohort of women and children from Northern Syria, some of them, to here in Sydney. Overnight, the Home Affairs Minister confirms that this group has been issued with Australian passports. One of the women has had a Temporary Exclusion Order applied, which could delay her return for up to two years. All of this comes as police investigate another threat made against the Lakemba Mosque, Sydney's biggest mosque, as Muslims mark the start of the holy month of Ramadan. At 29 minutes to 9, the Prime Minister is here. Very good morning to you, Prime Minister.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good morning, Hamish. Good to be with you.
MACDONALD: Sydney's largest mosque has received a violent message containing a call to kill Muslims on the eve of Ramadan. It's the third threat in less than a month. What's your response?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, there's no place for violence or threats of violence. It is outrageous that people just going about commemorating their faith, particularly during the holy month for Muslims of Ramadan, are subject to this sort of intimidation. I have said repeatedly we need to turn down the temperature of political discourse in this country, and we certainly need to do that. And if it is outrageous that at a time like this, three lots of threats are occurring, there's just too much of it. And people who do engage in this sort of behaviour should face the full force of the law.
MACDONALD: I want to talk about the discourse, the language that's being used. You have said a number of times the temperature needs to be turned down. Pauline Hanson this week suggested that there are no good Muslims. She then walked back on some of that language. But she then had this to say about Lakemba here in Sydney.
[AUDIO GRAB]
PAULINE HANSON, LEADER OF ONE NATION: They don't want to go in certain suburbs, and I've been there myself in Lakemba -
HOST: Which suburb? Which suburb?
HANSON: You feel unwanted, you not want to be there. Lakemba. Lakemba. Have you been there?
[AUDIO ENDS]
MACDONALD: Is there a link in your mind between this sort of commentary and the threat of violence?
PRIME MINISTER: Of course there is, because it legitimises it, it mainstreams it. And Pauline Hanson is a divisive figure. She's made a political career out of seeking to divide Australians against each other. And what we need is more unity, not more division. And the fact that you have as well senior Liberal figures - I'm speaking to you from Melbourne. I mean, this week, Jeff Kennett has spoken about the need for preference deals. It used to be the case that One Nation was isolated and put last on how to vote cards of the mainstream political parties, Labor and Liberal, that at the last election wasn't the case, and -
MACDONALD: But, Prime Minister, we are seeing in the polls that there is support trending towards One Nation. We've heard it from callers on this program yesterday, people saying that they've never considered One Nation before in their lives, but they're now opening their mind to that because they feel that Pauline Hanson is willing to address issues that you, the Labor Government as well as the Coalition, are not willing to. What do you say to that?
PRIME MINISTER: I say that Pauline Hanson is ready to divide people. If people think through what is the solutions that she's offering. There's no economic policy. There's nothing on cost of living. She's voted against every cost of living measure. She's opposed any of the industrial relations reforms that have led to higher wages, such as Same Job, Same Pay. She is someone who often doesn't participate in the Senate but is busy off just campaigning. And she's a negative force in Australian politics. And I understand that people are frustrated and that fear can be a powerful emotion. But what we need in this country is hope, is optimism and is looking forward with a serious positive policy agenda. And Pauline Hanson does not do that.
MACDONALD: It's 26 minutes to nine. The Prime Minister is here this morning. Need to ask you about this cohort of Australian women and children in Northern Syria. The Home Affairs Minister confirmed overnight that they have been granted Australian passports. Dave Sharma, Senator Dave Sharma, Liberal, has pointed out that Section 14 of the Passports Act makes quite clear, he says, that there is discretion to refuse the granting of passports if it's found that a person may prejudice the security of Australia or Australians. Why wasn't that discretion used?
PRIME MINISTER: Australian citizens have rights, but we are making sure that we follow the advice of all of the national security agencies. We are providing no support or repatriation of the -
MACDONALD: Oh, I'm sorry. The Prime Minister's just dropped off the line there. 1300 222 702 is the number. We'll try and get that line back. The Prime Minister here is here this morning and we can put any questions you've got to him. 1300 222 702 is the number. The Government has confirmed that it has issued those passports to the cohort of Australians there in Northern Syria. My apologies, Prime Minister, we lost you there for a moment. But you're addressing the question of why discretion was not used in relation to granting these passports.
PRIME MINISTER: We followed the law and we follow the advice of the authorities. The Government is providing no support for the repatriation of these people or any support whatsoever. I have nothing but contempt for these people. I said the other day -
MACDONALD: Hold on, Prime Minister, some of these are children, Australian children, 23 children. You have contempt for them?
PRIME MINISTER: I have contempt for their parents who have put these children in that situation.
MACDONALD: So what are you, as a government doing to help and protect these children?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, that is the responsibility of their parents and their mothers in particular, who made this decision -
MACDONALD: But in circumstances where parents endanger their children's lives, what's the responsibility of Government to step in to help and protect?
PRIME MINISTER: We have a firm position, which is that the mothers in this case who made this decision to travel overseas against Australia's national interest, are the responsible ones who've put their children in this position.
MACDONALD: And you'll do nothing to help these children?
PRIME MINISTER: We will do nothing to assist these people coming back to Australia. No, we won't.
MACDONALD: In 2019, the Morrison Government repatriated eight orphans of two Australian ISIS fighters. Here's what the PM at that time had to say.
[AUDIO GRAB]
SCOTT MORRISON, FORMER PRIME MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA: They've got off to a horrible start in life as a result of the appalling decisions of their parents, and they'll find their home in Australia, and I'm sure they'll be embraced by Australians. And as a result of that embrace, I'm sure they will live positive and happy lives.
[AUDIO ENDS]
MACDONALD: You now see it differently in relation to these kids, it seems?
PRIME MINISTER: We can't bring the children back without their mothers. It is their mothers that have put them in this position. And during the period of the former government, more than 40 people returned from being involved with Islamic State. Not just family members, but actually some of the fighters returned during that time as well.
MACDONALD: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is here this morning. I know you have to go, but there is some news this morning that Donald Trump is considering a social media ban for American kids. Your response?
PRIME MINISTER: I am so proud of what we are doing as a nation in leading the world. Our ban came into force on December 10. It is working across ten platforms. The feedback from parents is so positive and the feedback from young people as well. We want kids to have their childhood back. And the fact that it's been followed in Spain, France, Denmark, Indonesia, Malaysia, the UK are considering it. And this report of the United States giving consideration as well shows that Australia can lead the world with reform.
MACDONALD: Can I clarify? Is Truth Social subject to our social media ban, PM?
PRIME MINISTER: Look, no, but I'm not sure how many kids are using that here in Australia.
MACDONALD: You might need to review that one, Prime Minister.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, the eSafety Commissioner reviews all of the platforms on a regular basis and we take her advice, but she's doing a fantastic job.
MACDONALD: Prime Minister, thanks very much for your time this morning. We appreciate it.
PRIME MINISTER: Thanks very much, Hamish.