Two Australian states prepare to resettle children from Syrian detention camp with most bound for Melbourne

Guardian Australia · Nino Bucci and Tom McIlroy · Wednesday 6 May 2026

Two Australian states prepare to resettle children from Syrian detention camp with most bound for Melbourne

Four women and nine children expected to return to Australia on Thursday with all apart from a mother and her child expected to go to VictoriaGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAuthorities in two Australian states are preparing to resettle children returning from squalid detention camps and life under Islamic State rule, as at least some of their mothers face possible criminal charges.Four women and nine children are expected to return to Australia on Thursday, with all of them apart from a mother and her child bound for Melbourne. Continue reading...

Nine children, four women, one Hercules — and seven years of governments of both colours pretending the geography was the problem. The kids didn't pick the parents and didn't pick the camp, but Canberra spent half a childhood deciding whether they were Australian enough to come home. Four prime ministers, one tarmac. Took us long enough.

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