Australia’s Political Storm Over IRGC: Coalition Accuses Labor of Delayed Action

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Political Clash in Australia Over IRGC Listing: Coalition Blames Labor

A major political storm has erupted in Australia over the delay in designating Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organisation.

The Coalition is strongly criticising the Labor government, alleging that it failed to act in time despite repeated warnings, while the government maintains that it relied on security agencies’ advice.

Coalition’s Criticism

1. Sussan Ley’s Question in Parliament
   • Opposition Leader Sussan Ley directly questioned Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during Question Time:
     “Why didn’t you act sooner when the warnings were so clear and the risks so grave?”
   • Ley argued that Labor’s inaction weakened Australia’s security response.
2. Julian Leeser’s Stronger Position
   • Shadow Attorney-General Julian Leeser, a prominent Jewish MP, went further, saying governments should sometimes act on judgment rather than waiting for intelligence agencies.
   • He claimed Iranian-linked attacks in Australia could have been prevented if the IRGC had been listed earlier, giving authorities stronger legal powers to act against people associated with terrorist organisations.

Government’s Defence

1. Prime Minister’s Response
   • Prime Minister Anthony Albanese defended his government, stressing:
     “We listen to intelligence agencies, we don’t try to second guess them. We act by taking the advice of ASIO.”
   • He made clear that the decision to list the IRGC was based on the timing of ASIO’s formal recommendation.
2. Tony Burke on Proxy Attacks
   • Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke echoed ASIO’s assessment that those carrying out the attacks were “cut outs” who likely had no knowledge of who was funding them.
   • He argued that even if the IRGC had been listed earlier, it would have made little difference in stopping the lower-level operatives.

Intelligence Agencies’ Assessment

• ASIO chief Mike Burgess described Iran’s use of a “complex web of proxies,” highlighting the difficulty in directly linking the operatives in Australia to Tehran.
• Intelligence agencies only recently advised the government to list the IRGC, which explains Labor’s timeline for action.

Bipartisan Agreement, Yet Ongoing Brawl

• Both Labor and the Coalition support expelling the Iranian ambassador and listing the IRGC as a terrorist group.
• Despite this consensus, the Coalition continues to press its case that Labor failed to act sooner, while the government insists it followed intelligence protocols.

Conclusion

The political clash over the IRGC designation reveals a deeper divide in how Australia balances intelligence advice with political judgment.

While both sides now back stronger measures against Iran, the Coalition remains determined to blame Labor for delays, ensuring the debate over responsibility will continue.

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