Australia Won't Help ISIS Fighters, Minister Says; Opposition MP Defends Party's Polling

Australia's Home Affairs Minister, Tony Burke, has declared the government will "not lift a finger" to assist suspected Australian ISIS fighters currently detained in an Iraqi prison.

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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.

Burke confirmed that Australian security agencies are actively gathering evidence on an Australian woman, identified as Hodan Abby, who is reportedly in Syria. Abby is accused of enforcing Sharia law in a Syrian camp and allegedly enslaving a Yazidi girl. Burke noted that agencies are aware of her location, and she may be weighing her options regarding a return to Australia, potentially facing arrest upon arrival.

In a separate development, Barnaby Joyce, a Member of Parliament for the right-wing One Nation party, brushed off recent polling data indicating a decline in support for his party. The Resolve poll showed One Nation's support had fallen three points, though it remains ahead of the Coalition. Joyce defended his leader's comments on social cohesion and monoculture, stating that such "brave" statements are necessary to prevent tragic events like the one in Bondi from recurring.

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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 emphasized that making substantive statements is crucial, and failing to do so could lead to repeated incidents. He suggested that people understand One Nation's focus on social cohesion and ensuring that issues, particularly those highlighted by recent tragedies, are not repeated. He believes such statements are necessary and that one must be brave enough to make them.

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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.