Michaelia Cash slams Clare O’Neil over signed letter refusing to list Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as terror organisation

Opposition foreign affairs spokesperson Michaelia Cash has confronted Labor government minister Clare O’Neil over her refusal to list the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is a terror organisation more than two years ago.

The tense exchange on Sunrise on Wednesday comes in the wake of revelations Iran was responsible for at least two antisemitic fire-bombings on Australian soil.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said spy agency ASIO determined Iran was behind the fires that destroyed Lewis Continental Kitchen in Sydney on October 20, as well as the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne last December.

Albanese has since expelled Iran’s ambassador to Australia, Ahmad Sadeghi, and three other Iranian officials. Australia’s embassy in Iran has been closed, and the IRGC will now be listed as a terror organisation.

On Wednesday, Cash held up a signed letter as she said: “Despite what Clare O’Neil has just said, this is the letter signed by Clare O’Neill, Penny Wong and Mark Dreyfus responding to the Coalition’s call to list this organisation as a terrorist organisation, and guess what the letter says? They won’t do it,” Cash said.

“We demanded action two-and-a-half years ago. The Iranian community in Australia demanded action two-and-a-half years ago. And this government did nothing.

“So here is a clear message to Mr Albanese: Bring on the legislation to list this organisation today, you have the resources to do this and we will assist you in passing it — just like we told you we would do two-and-a-half years ago.

“Just like the Iranian community here in Australia, who fled the brutal Islamic regime and all its horror and terror, have been telling the government to do.”

Cash then grilled O’Neil, asking her to explain herself.

O’Neil skirted the question, saying Cash had delivered a “rude and unworthy performance” on the show.

“I have a really strong view that when our country comes under aggression and violence from a foreign power that our politicians should stand together and fight back,” O’Neil said.

“I try to respect the work of politicians in Canberra, my personal view is that this is not the time for politics. I think it is grossly inappropriate.

“I think it is really important that the major parties in particular work together on matters like this. That is usually the approach that we see from the Coalition. Michaelia has taken a different approach, that is her business.”

Host Nat Barr pressed O’Neil, asking: “Clare, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard was being warned about two-and-a-half years ago, as that sounds like the case. Was it worth looking into?”

O’Neil replied: “Of course our security agencies have been firmly focused on Iranian foreign interference for as long as I have been in parliament. This is an issue confronting the country.

“Iran doesn’t just do this in Australia, it is the modus operandi of the Iranian government, they do it around the world. Our security agencies have been able to uncover this because of the hard work they do every day.”

Barr asked if they acted too late.

O’Neil: “I am supportive of the work our security agencies do, police investigations take time.

“The important thing is that we have got to the bottom of what has happened here. The Australian government is taking the necessary action hopeful of the Coalition will support us and stand together as one country, as we should do in times like this.”

Cash retorted: “That is pathetic. That is a pathetic response, Clare, two-and-a-half years ago we could have stood together and listed this organisation.

“Instead, we have the Islamic Republic of Iran, they don’t share the same values as us, they seek to kill people on Australian soil.

“You and your government have a lot to answer today. Penny Wong, Mark Dreyfus, Clare O’Neill — you were warned. The Coalition, the Iranian community here in Australia, told you this.

“This is the letter and you said no. You have some serious explaining to do today.

“Yes, we will stand with you, bring on the legislation. Enough is enough. Let’s list these people for what they are, terrorists, who have sought to kill Australians on Australian soil.”