Subjects: ISIS concerns, Middle East conflict, petrol prices
E&OE
Kieran GILBERT
Joining me live in the studio is the former Deputy Prime Minister, Michael McCormack. He’s the Federal Member for the Riverina as well. You’ve got a big Yazidi population in your hometown of Wagga Wagga. The beautiful city of Wagga.
Michael McCORMACK
Beautiful city, beautiful people.
Kieran GILBERT
The Yazidis, just to remind our viewers, were the victims of the worst atrocities of Islamic State back in the day
Michael McCORMACK
Particularly in 2014, and they still feel very much that genocide. They came to Parliament the other day. We had a young lady, only 19 years old, who hasn’t seen her mum since she was eight. She’s been in Australia for some years. The heartfelt, heartrending story that she told – if that didn’t stir something within you then you’ve got something other than blood coursing through your veins.
Kieran GILBERT
And they don’t want the Islamic State sympathizers here.
Michael McCORMACK
They do not. But I have to say, Tony Burke gave them a meeting when he heard that there in the in the building. He gave one of them permanent residency.
Kieran GILBERT
So they came and they didn’t all have permanent residency?
Michael McCORMACK
One of them didn’t.
Kieran GILBERT
One of them didn’t.
Michael McCORMACK
Tony Burke moved this week to get that fixed. Right there and then. And he came back yesterday. They went through all the right processes.
Kieran GILBERT
But this Yazidi Australian now, he’ll be …
Michael McCORMACK
He’ll get citizenship in four years’ time.
Kieran GILBERT
He’d be relieved though.
Michael McCORMACK
He has permanent residence. He would be totally relieved. But, when you hear their story, it is heartbreaking. They are genuinely concerned. They’re concerned, as young Martine the 19-year-old young lady described, for their safety, their protection, and not just to the Yazidi community, but for the Australian population. They very worried about the ISIS returning. That would be horrendous.
Kieran GILBERT
Well they have seen what ISIS can do. Did Mr. Burke seek to allay their concerns?
Michael McCORMACK
He did, and he explained it to them in a in a way in which I just wish he would explain it to the Parliament and the general public, because I appreciate that some of these people who have got Australian citizenship and only Australian citizenship, have gone to mix with terrorists – and let’s face it, that’s what they’ve been doing, they are terror sympathizers. They are entitled, I use that word very learnedly, to return to Australia, but they must be monitored. It’s I have been found to have done the wrong thing while they’re in the Middle East then they should face the full extent of the law, the Australian law.
Kieran GILBERT
We’re seeing the New South Wales Corrections Centre already set up wings specifically for extremist women. Do you welcome that? And does it show that the Government has known that this cohort is coming back for a while?
Michael McCORMACK
100%. It’s at a State level. New South Wales Police, it’s AFP, it’s ASIO, it’s counterintelligence and surveillance. They must be monitored. If it was good enough to put ankle bracelets on those Austalian miscreants who were released into the public when Andrew Giles was the Minister, then this must be a minimum for these people.
Kieran GILBERT
You’ve got quite a large Islamic population as well in the in the town of Young.
Michael McCORMACK
Yes, in the town of Young and in the southwest slopes in the Riverina electorate.
Kieran GILBERT
How would you characterise that community?
Michael McCORMACK
Mainly, they are good contributing people. They abide by the law. They want to do the right thing. There is an Islamic school there, where the principal has been stood down for radical preaching and some of the comments that he has made on social media, Abdulghani Albaf, and he’s made some very interesting remarks about me. But in the main, they are good people. And look, for those people who want to contribute to society, who understand that we are a peace abiding and loving nation of people, then then there’s no problem. But it’s those people who are ISIS sympathisers who come back in here and then radicalize their children, they are concerns and they must be monitored. And I say, if they’ve got dual citizenship, then I don’t see why we should let him back at all.
Kieran GILBERT
Indeed. I think a lot of people would agree with you on that one. Macron, the French leader, said that the acts and the strikes against Iran were outside of the bounds of international law. It’s interesting the interpretation along those lines that are critical of the US and Israel’s actions. Yet the context is the strikes are against a regime that sponsored state terrorism and that has been working in grey zone conflict for four decades.
Michael McCORMACK
I don’t understand the French leader’s comments in this regard.
Kieran GILBERT
He’s not alone. There’ve been others, the British Prime Minister is also questioning.
Michael McCORMACK
There are Europe’s silent cities. There are that many Australian graves on French soil, Australians who’ve gone there to fight for the French, to fight for freedom, to fight for their liberty. Then he comes out with a comment about that, about Iran, which has been a sponsor of terrorism right across the world. He ought to know better. There you go.
Kieran GILBERT
When you look at the Government’s position on it, do you think that the Albanese Government has landed in the right spot in supporting the strikes?
Michael McCORMACK
So far, so good. The concern now is, of course, the price of fuel. In Cowra today it cost 219.9 cents a litre for E10. So the price has already spiked. I think the ACCC should have a good look at the price of petrol, because most of the petrol being pumped out in regional New South Wales was there last week, well before the Iranian strikes.
Kieran GILBERT
So you think there might be a little bit of gouging?
Michael McCORMACK
Absolutely. 100% there is gouging. This should not be allowed to happen. The gouging and collusion.
Kieran GILBERT
Collusion between…
Michael McCORMACK
The price of petrol in some country centres is the same at one bowser as it is the next station and the next station. It’s all exorbitantly high and it’s all gone through the roof just in the last 48 hours. That’s not right. That’s not acceptable.
Kieran GILBERT
We will stay in touch. We’ve heard the Treasurer say he’s focused on it. You’ll no doubt be monitoring it. Report back and let us know if the Government and the ACCC do have any teeth on that. Thank you, Michael McCormack. See you next week.
Michael McCORMACK
Look forward to it.
ENDS