Live: Burke says he will 'not lift a finger' to help suspected ISIS fighters

The home affairs minister says he will "not lift a finger" to support suspected Australian ISIS fighters held in an Iraqi prison.

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Mon 13 Jul 2026 at 8:12am

Mon 13 Jul 2026 at 8:12am

Shadow minister says ABC, SBS must take complaints about Israel reporting seriously

By Joshua Boscaini

Julian Leeser says Australia's public broadcasters need to address "systemic bias" against Israel in their reporting and subject themselves to greater transparency mechanism.

Antisemitism envoy Jillian Segal told the social cohesion royal commission the that the ABC and SBS disproportionately gave voice to anti-Israel perspectives.

She recommended the establishment of an independent oversight committee to review the public broadcaster's compliance with its charter obligations.

Speaking to ABC Radio National Breakfast, the shadow education minister has pointed to the oversight model spruiked by the antisemitism envoy to address transparency.

"I know there have been complaints about the public broadcasters and their reporting of Israel for years and years … The special envoy has raised these issues. I think the public broadcasters have to take them seriously," Leeser says.

Mon 13 Jul 2026 at 8:04am

Mon 13 Jul 2026 at 8:04am

Julian Leeser urges govt to mandate IHRA definition of antisemitism at universities

By Joshua Boscaini

Shadow Education Minister Julian Leeser has criticised the government's decision not to mandate a definition of antisemitism at Australian universities.

Universities will be required to adopt definitions of antisemitism, racism against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and Islamophobia under new standards.

But the government has said it would not require a specific definition to be adopted in any of those categories.

Speaking to ABC Radio National Breakfast, Leeser has urged the government to used the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism.

"This is another instance where we will have to drag the government kicking and screaming because the universities have to be dragged kicking and screaming again to do the right thing," Leeser says.

"The time for mucking around with these issues is long past. 15 people were murdered in cold blood on our most famous speech because of their religion. The time to adopt IHRA is now, and I'm calling on the minister to mandate the IHRA definition."

Key Event

Mon 13 Jul 2026 at 7:57am

Mon 13 Jul 2026 at 7:57am

ISIS-linked woman should be mindful of consequences of returning to Australia: Burke

By Joshua Boscaini

Tony Burke says an ISIS-linked Australian woman who was temporarily barred from returning home should be mindful of the consequences if she returns to Australia.

Sydney woman Hodan Abby was subjected to a temporary exclusion order (TEO) by the home affairs minister on the advice of security agencies.

The ABC reports the woman was an enforcer of Sharia law in a Syrian camp and allegedly enslaved and abused a Yazidi woman in 2016.

Speaking to ABC Radio National Breakfast, Burke says there is a reason why the woman was subject to the exclusion order.

"Certainly, everybody who went to join ISIS made an unconscionable decision, like made a horrific decision. And while they were there, there were a range of unacceptable behaviours across the cohort," Burke says.

"Not everyone in the cohort was identical. They all made the first decision, which was horrific, but they behaved differently when they were over there. And some people are at levels that it just beggars belief how humans could treat other humans that way."

Mon 13 Jul 2026 at 7:41am

Mon 13 Jul 2026 at 7:41am

Tony Burke says new university guidelines will provide stronger baseline for student safety

By Joshua Boscaini

The federal government will require universities to define antisemitism and create transparent processes for complaints of racism as part of an overhaul of higher education standards.

Jewish staff and students have spoken out about antisemitism on university campuses following the October 7 terrorist attacks in Israel.

Public universities will be required to comply with the new racism standards from January, while private institutions have until July.

Speaking to ABC News Breakfast, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke says the guidelines provide a much stronger baseline for student safety.

"Every student should feel safe if they're at uni. If you're studying it should be a fun, relaxed place where you hear different ideas and you feel safe," Burke says.

"Clearly, for a whole lot of students, that hasn't been the case, particularly over the last couple of years."

Mon 13 Jul 2026 at 7:32am

Mon 13 Jul 2026 at 7:32am

Home affairs minister says govt is building evidence on ISIS-linked woman

By Joshua Boscaini

Tony Burke says the government is aware of the location of an ISIS-linked Australia woman who was temporarily barred from the country.

The ABC reports Sydney woman Hodan Abby, who was subject to a temporary exclusion order (TEO), was an enforcer of Sharia law in a Syrian camp.

Abby also allegedly enslaved a Yazidi woman who was only nine or 10 when she was sold to the Australian woman's family.

Speaking to ABC News Breakfast, Burke says Australia's security agencies are continuing to build evidence on the woman.

"Our agencies are aware of her location, but obviously she may well, having seen some people who returned be arrested on arrival at the airport, she'd be weighing up the different things that she's done and would be making a decision as to whether or not she ever returns," Burke says.

Mon 13 Jul 2026 at 7:15am

Mon 13 Jul 2026 at 7:15am

Barnaby Joyce brushes aside drop in One Nation's polling

By Joshua Boscaini

One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce has shrugged off new polling that shows support for his right-wing party has dropped.

The latest Resolve poll shows One Nation's support fell three points, although it remains behind Labor and in front of the Coalition.

Pauline Hanson's popularity also dropped by eight points to 25 per cent, according to the poll of just over 2,200 people.

Asked if his leader's comments on monoculture and paid parental leave contributed to the drop, Joyce says changes are always expected in polls and he stood by his leader's comments on the topics.

"I think that people understand that one of the big things about One Nation, one of the big things about Pauline, is social cohesion and making sure that the issues, especially what we saw tragically at Bondi, are not repeated," Joyce says.

"And it requires a substantive statement. You've got to be brave enough to make it. If you don't want to make it, I suppose you accept that it will happen again."

Mon 13 Jul 2026 at 7:07am

Mon 13 Jul 2026 at 7:07am

Tony Burke says govt will 'not lift a finger' to support suspected ISIS fighters

By Joshua Boscaini

Some newspapers have reported 13 Australian men suspected of being ISIS fighters are being interrogated in a prison in Baghdad, Iraq.

Asked if he would place a temporary exclusion order (TEO) on the men, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke says it's a really "tough" threshold to meet.

Speaking to Channel Seven, Burke says he'll use any legal instrument he can to keep the men out of the country.

"My view is that anybody, anybody at all, who decided to get on a plane and be part of ISIS, my view is anything we can do to restrict your return, if I get that legal option I take it," he says.

Mon 13 Jul 2026 at 7:03am

Mon 13 Jul 2026 at 7:03am

Good morning 👋

By Joshua Boscaini

Hello and welcome to our federal politics live blog! It's great to have you join us for the start of a new week here on Capital Hill.

I'm Josh Boscaini joining you live from Parliament House in Canberra, here and ready to bring you all of today's federal politics news.

I'm not sure what could happen today, but let's get this show on the road and see what it brings us!