Finance Minister Mathias Cormann has defended the prime minister’s calls for Islamic faith leaders to improve their proactive efforts to identify and report those at risk of being radicalised.
The PM's calls were criticised by Australia’s Grand Mufti, who told SBS Arabic the comments constituted “serious discrimination”.
The Mufti said the Muslim community had been instrumental in thwarting past attacks and did not need to be reminded of its “duties”.
On Tuesday, the sheik who leads the Islamic youth centre that was attended by the Bourke Street attacker made his own criticisms of the government’s line.
Craig Laundy, Mathias Cormann and Scott Morrison
AAP
“First, we want to be really truthful with each other,” Sheik Mohammed Omran said.
“This bloody Prime Minister, instead of turning the heat on somebody else, he should answer us about what he did.”
“He has spent billions of dollars — billions — on security service. And what is the end result? We have crazy people in the street.”
Prime Minister Scott Morrison called on the Islamic community to do more in policing the issue of radicalisation.
AAP
Senator Cormann said Sheik Omran’s comments were “disappointing”, speaking with reporters at Parliament House on Tuesday morning.
He said most Australians would find the prime minister’s request reasonable.
He said Mr Morrison was not “blaming” the community but just asking for more help, and said it was undeniable Islamic faith leaders were in a “better position” than most.
