Angus Taylor arrives for first question time as Liberal Party, Opposition Leader

Opposition Leader Angus Taylor asked the first question of his tenure as Liberal leader, quizzing Anthony Albanese on whether any government ministers or staff supported issuing Australian passports to ISIS “sympathisers”.

Taylor asked: “Prime Minister, there have been reports that at least 34 passports have been issued recently under this government to facilitate the return of people who have left Australia to join ISIS. Can the Prime Minister confirm that no minister or any staff member has made representations to relevant departments or agencies to support or expedite the issuance of Australian passports to sympathizers in Syria?”

Albanese took the chance to quote former Liberal leader Peter Dutton’s comments arguing that Australian citizens have the “right and right to return to our country”. Albanese said the words were not his own but came from “that soft person” who led the opposition in last year’s election.

“We are not sending these people back to their countries. We have made that clear,” Albanese said.

“Given that he came home under the care of 40 people who were not his associates or relatives, including ISIS fighters, the hypocrisy on this issue is extraordinary.”