Home affairs minister in Queensland after dramatic night in which five female players were granted asylum. Follow updates live Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast The shadow defence minister, James Patterson, says joining the ongoing war in the Middle East “would have to meet an incredibly high bar” but Australia should “consider” any requests from Gulf countries for military assistance. Cabinet’s national security committee met yesterday to consider requests for Aus...

Home affairs minister Tony Burke stated that Australia has few options to block the return of 34 women and children from a Syrian camp, noting that one woman is subject to a temporary exclusion order due to security concerns.

Canberra banned an Australian citizen with alleged ties to the militant Islamic State (Isis) group from returning home from a detention camp in Syria, the latest development in the case of fraught repatriation of families of Isis fighters. The woman was planning to join another 33 Australians – 10 women and 23 children – and fly on Monday from Damascus, Syria, to Australia, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said on Wednesday. But the group was turned back by Syrian authorities to the Roj...

Tony Burke says he is still considering whether to deny visa application from TV journalist Zvi Yehezkeli

Australia's Home Affairs Minister, Tony Burke, stated that the country has limited options to block the return of 34 women and children from a Syrian camp, despite one woman facing a temporary exclusion order.

Australia's Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke is seeking advice from security agencies regarding the potential return of Australian women and children currently in Syria, who are seeking to re-enter the country.

Australia's home affairs minister, Tony Burke, states that options are limited to block the return of 34 women and children from a Syrian camp, despite one woman facing a temporary exclusion order over security concerns.

Australia's Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke accuses the Coalition of 'silly hypocrisy' regarding the repatriation of Australians from Syria, noting the opposition had done so when in government.