It must stand as a record. A simple "yes" would have done when asked whether the ISIS brides trying to return from Syria had been issued with Australian passports. But Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke used almost 50 words.

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"I'm giving the very practical answer that if anyone applies for a passport, as a citizen, they are issued with a passport," he told 7.30 host Sarah Ferguson. "In the same way that public servants, if someone applies for a Medicare card, they get a Medicare card. These are automatic processes done by public servants."

"That was a long way of saying yes," Ferguson replied.

It certainly was. And there was no need for Burke to ramble in such a way, clouding what is an abundantly clear situation.

Under the Australian Passports Act 2005, legislated by the Howard government, all Australian citizens eligible to apply for a passport are entitled to be issued with one.

Section 7 (1) of the act removed ministerial discretion over who would or would not be issued with a passport, in place since the first Passports Act was legislated in 1938. The door wasn't thrown wide open however; the act also strengthened security agencies' ability to request the suspension or cancellation of travel documents on grounds of national security. We know that's happened with one of the ISIS brides, who is the subject of a temporary exclusion order.

Burke's verbal gymnastics answering a very simple question betrays a fear in the government that the ISIS brides issue will be exploited in the same way the NZYQ High Court case was. Or, worse, in the same way Anthony Albanese's awkward initial response to the Bondi massacre was - until the whole thing blew up in the Coalition's face (and blew up the Coalition).

The opposition's huffing and puffing is laced with hypocrisy. And not only because the automatic right to passports was the result of Howard-era legislation.

In 2019, it was Scott Morrison as PM who helped repatriate eight orphaned Australian children of ISIS fighters. "They've got off to a horrible start in life as a result of the appalling decisions of their parents and they'll find their home in Australia and I'm sure they'll be embraced by Australians and as a result of that embrace, I'm sure they'll live positive and happy lives," he said at the time.

The PM has made clear his antipathy towards the ISIS brides. His government has not and will not assist in their repatriation and if the evidence is there they will face criminal charges on their return. The plight of the children is the result, he said, echoing Morrison, of the decisions of their parents. But unlike Morrison, there's no sympathy, only contempt.

That hardening of attitude is to be expected after the ISIS-inspired Bondi terror attack and is likely in line with broad community sentiment. But the law is the law and the 34 women and children seeking to return have every right to do so unless they are subject to temporary exclusion orders, issued on the advice of our security agencies.

And the law will catch up with the returnees if they are found to have breached it.

Tony Burke should be clear about this when questioned and not resort to 50-word answers when one word will do.

HAVE YOUR SAY: Should the ISIS brides and their children be barred from returning to Australia? Should children be punished for the actions of their parents? Will politicians ever learn to give simple answers to simple questions? Email us: echidna@theechidna.com.au

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THEY SAID IT: "Taking children into a war zone like this is child abuse." - Tanya Plibersek

YOU SAID IT: Over-cautious in this age of gotcha journalism, politicians traffick in sentences so bland it's as if they're designed to be forgotten, laments Garry.

"Our politicians revel in the mundane world of entire answers and entire speeches composed of cliche after meaningless cliche," writes David. "Plus of course mangling the pronunciation of words like 'government', 'community', and 'Australia'. It is a most rare occasion to hear a politician say something original, clear and from their heart."

Jennifer writes: "I always appreciated Paul Keating's elegant swordsmanship with words, but there are times when wielding words as wands, designed to elicit authentic change in hearts and minds is required. Mark Carney's Davos speech succinctly captured the urgency and reality of where the world stands poised, a few well chosen images encapsulating the whole shebang. All our politicians would be well advised to get with the program, cut out the guff and polly-speak and get on with it."

"I think you answered your own question," writes Brad. "The Gotcha Squad in media, turbo-charged by social media. Many of our commentators arrive at press conferences with their conclusions already framed. Their questions, repeated because they're not accepting the answer they actually received. Another admired user of succinct language was the late Prince Philip. After the Australia Acts 1986 passed, gushing media asked about us becoming a republic. His answer? 'Bloody get on with it'."

Ron writes: "As a former 'hack', I'm dismayed by the laziness we display towards our most important tool - language; it's just a cacophony of cliche and marketing diatribe. And what happened to critical thinking?"

"Having watched the premier of Queensland address the media in Canberra, I was more than impressed in the way he laid out his view," writes Rosemary. "He was articulate in putting forward his and his party's ideas, backing it up with sound arguments as to why he thought they were important. No shouting or getting overheated responses to questions, was respectful and a joy to listen to."

Geoff writes: "I'm sure that the Coalition could speak more eloquently and be more interesting if they had real policies to talk about. It's hard to be erudite when you have little to discuss and shallow vague clichés make boring speeches."

"There are no great orators in this current parliament," writes David M, who speaks three languages, having grown up in Italy and learning French in primary school. "Just the usual pillows and their usual platitudes and gunk. Looks like the shadow cabinet has been told to use the term 'bad Labor government' every time they open their mouths in the hope that over time it will stick. Keating was my favorite orator. Nobody has come close since."

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