Peter Stefanovic, Host: Well, there are some conflicting reports this morning over the female Iranian footballers who sought asylum in Australia with claims another player has decided to return home. Joining us live is the Assistant Foreign Minister Matt Thistlethwaite. Matt, we're a little unclear on this this morning, so good to have you on. Has another player decided to leave last night? Where do things stand this AM?
Matt Thistlethwaite, Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade: Good morning, Pete. My instructions are that five players have left and that there are two remaining. But the additional players that left yesterday, and the government's done all that we can to try and support these players, to offer them the opportunity to settle in Australia. We've been working very, very closely with them, but obviously this is a very complex situation. These are deeply personal decisions, and the government respects the decisions of those that have chosen to return. And we continue to offer support to the two that are remaining.
Stefanovic: Okay, so there's not been another one overnight?
Assistant Minister: That's my instructions, yeah, there was a few that left yesterday.
Stefanovic. So, is it the player? A player and a team official who are the one, the two that remain?
Assistant Minister: I can't reveal the identity for privacy reasons. Only suffice to say that there are two that are remaining. They're being given all the support of the Australian Government and indeed the diaspora community to remain here and settle in Australia.
Stefanovic: Right. What's behind this change of heart? I mean, was the safe house compromised?
Assistant Minister: Look, it's a complex situation. They were removed to a safe destination once they decided to take up our offer of protection here in Australia. But obviously they've been able to communicate with family and with others. I understand that some of them did make contact with the Iranian embassy here in Australia. We can't cut off communications for them, obviously. We did all we could to support them, to make sure that they understood that they would be able to access settlement services here in Australia. They would be able to access the diaspora community, and of course, that they would still be able to contact their family back in Iran as well.
Stefanovic: Is there a technical team member? This has been reported this morning, Matt, that an Iranian technical team member did stay behind here in Australia who has the ear of the IRGC, and she might be used as a kind of conduit to convince these players to return home. Is there any truth to that?
Assistant Minister: Yeah, I asked that question of the department when I met with them this morning, and they've informed me that there's no evidence to support that theory and that all of those that chose to remain were genuine asylum seekers. But obviously a very difficult situation, difficult decision for them. I guess that many of them came to Australia expecting to play soccer and to return home. So, it's a difficult situation for them and we have to respect their wishes. But for the two that remain, they're getting all the support that they can.
Stefanovic: Well, on that point, I mean, no doubt it's difficult for them, but do you feel the remaining two will go home as well? Because it could be hard for just the two of them to stay without that bigger support base. You know, it's gone from seven to two. So, that's a lot of support that they've lost. Do you feel like those, those final two might just end up going home as well?
Assistant Minister: They've been offered protection in Australia and that means that their concerns about returning home are legitimate and have been recognised by the Australian Government and the Australian people. They've been given protection visas to remain in Australia. And what that means, Pete, is that they get all the support of the government to support them, to eventually lead rewarding and fulfilling lives here in Australia. So, they certainly understand that and they know that the support that's coming through settlement services, English programs, ensuring support for housing, ensuring support for workplace opportunities, that will continue. We're doing everything we can to support them, but it's a complex situation, obviously.
Stefanovic: Yeah, sure. Okay, let's go bigger picture in the Middle East now, will we provide help to the US to protect vessels in the Strait of Hormuz?
Assistant Minister: We've made a decision to provide support to the United Arab Emirates to help them protect their citizens and their country. And the reason for that is that there are quite a few Australians who are working and living in the United Arab Emirates. And obviously the attacks from Iran on the UAE are a risk to Australians' livelihoods. That's the extent of our involvement at the moment. And obviously we're continuing to monitor the situation. Australia is not directly involved in this conflict, but we'll do all we can to keep Australians in the region as safe as possible.
Stefanovic: But have we been asked by the Americans to help protect the shipping lane?
Assistant Minister: Look, I can't disclose those sort of things. They're national security matters. They're determined by the National Security Committee of Cabinet. I'm not a member of that Cabinet and they're national security issues. But we are constantly making decisions to ensure that we keep Australians safe in the region and do all we can to support them to come home. Just over 5,000 Australians have arrived home now on 38 flights. There's four more flights that will arrive today. We've got 15,000 people in the region who are registered with DFAT, and getting regular email updates and text updates. So, we're doing everything we can to keep them safe.
Stefanovic: Okay, Matt Thiselthwaite. Thanks.