The peak body of judges has warned the federal opposition leader's questioning of the decision to grant bail to a member of the ISIS bride cohort risks undermining trust in the legal system.
The Victorian Magistrates' Court granted bail to Rayann El Houli, who faces charges of travelling to a restricted area and being a member of a terror group, on Monday.
Angus Taylor said in a social media post that ''it's an utter disgrace that an accused ISIS bride has been granted bail by a Victorian Magistrate''.
"This decision fails the security test, the values test, the fairness test, and the pub test. The woman allegedly filmed herself indoctrinating her children with terrorist propaganda," Mr Taylor said.
It's an utter disgrace that an accused ISIS bride has been granted bail by a Victorian Magistrate. This decision fails the security test, the values test, the fairness test, and the pub test. The woman allegedly filmed herself indoctrinating her children with terrorist…
— Angus Taylor MP (@AngusTaylorMP) July 20, 2026
"No ISIS bride should have been allowed back into our country in the first place."
The, comments made on the day of the decision, prompted the Australian Judicial Officers Association to respond.
President of the association, Justice Steven Moore, said magistrates were bound by the law - not a ''pub test''.
"In a democratic society, it is essential for judges and magistrates to faithfully apply the law regardless of whether their decisions may be politically unpopular or may attract criticism from politicians," Justice Moore said in a statement.
"The decisions of judicial officers are not immune from criticism. However, any criticism must not undermine public confidence in the courts: it should be measured and fair and recognise that it is the duty of judicial officers to impartially apply the law."
Meanwhile, the government faces an impending dilemma as up to 13 men linked to Islamic State imprisoned in Iraq seek to return to Australia.
Among the group is Perth-born pediatrician Tareq Kamleh, colloquially known as "Doctor Jihad", who travelled to Syria in 2015 to join the terror organisation and was assumed to have been killed.
The Australian newspaper reported on Thursday that the government was made aware Kamleh was alive on two occasions, in 2022 and 2025, but decided not to take action.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the government hasn't and won't be providing any assistance to any Australian who made the choice to join a terrorist organisation.
"We've been really clear that for some individuals in this cohort, returning to Australia would mean facing the full force of the law," Dr Chalmers told ABC Radio National on Thursday.
The government may not be able to stop Kamleh from returning home due to strict constitutional limitations.
But shadow home affairs minister Jonathon Duniam said the government should have made efforts earlier to prevent the man's return.
"As a citizen, Dr Kamleh has the right to return to Australia. I personally, and my party have grave concerns of that," Senator Duniam told ABC Radio National.
