Overview
- Home Affairs secretary Stephanie Foster told Senate estimates the two women and four children landed on 26 September after arranging their travel privately.
- Officials said they became aware in June of the plan to return, two children had citizenship-by-descent approvals, and passports were issued in Beirut after detention by Lebanese authorities.
- The government maintains it did not organise or fund the journey and Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke says the cohort is not being settled by the Commonwealth.
- Labor’s Murray Watt said the individuals are under active surveillance, and AFP officials told parliament investigations are underway with preparations for further self-managed returns and no temporary exclusion order sought.
- Opposition figures accused the government of a cover-up over withheld details, while authorities have not confirmed the group’s location, support services or any potential charges.