Radio National Breakfast 'Our focus is repatriation' Tony Burke rules out Australian involvement in Iran war
Mar 5, 2026
Tony Burke, Australian Minister for Home Affairs and senior Labor figure overseeing national security and repatriation. He discusses Australia sending aircraft to repatriate citizens. He explains reliance on commercial airlines and UAE cooperation. He outlines new hate‑speech listing processes and the government's stance on Australians involved with allied forces.
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Australia Limits Role To Repatriation
- Australia is strictly focusing on repatriation not military engagement in the Iran conflict.
- Tony Burke says transport and refuelling planes were sent as contingency to evacuate stranded Australians amid attacked transport hubs.
Attacked Hubs Make Evacuation Harder
- The region has unusually high numbers of stranded Australians because transport hubs were attacked, disrupting normal evacuation routes.
- Burke says commercial airlines and cooperation with the UAE are essential as charters can't handle 100,000-plus people.
Prioritise Commercial Flights And Local Cooperation
- Rely on commercial carriers and host-nation cooperation to move large numbers of citizens quickly during regional crises.
- Burke notes early flights landed with 286 and 155 Australians, showing commercial options beginning to operate again.