Since Malcolm Turnbull overthrew Prime Minister Tony Abbott there has been a new tone coming from the Prime Minister’s office.
That new tone has been both on economic policy and counter terrorism issues. That tone has now been cemented.
In his National Security Statement to Parliament Prime Minister Turnbull said Australia’s response to Paris should be clear-eyed and strategic.
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“We should grieve and we should be angry. But we must not let grief or anger cloud our judgment,” he said.
“This is not a time for gestures or machismo. Calm, clinical, professional, effective. That's how we defeat this menace.”
Prime Minister Turnbull praised Muslim community leaders who have opposed terrorism and spoken out about the Paris attacks. It is a contrast to former Prime Minister Abbott who said: "I've often heard Western leaders describe Islam as a religion of peace. I wish more Muslim leaders would say that more often and mean it."
Mr Turnbull said social cohesion must be maintained in the fight against IS. “Strategically, ISIL wants to create division by fomenting resentment between non-Muslim populations and Muslims.
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“ISIL emerged as an extremist, terrorist group out of Al Qaeda in Iraq and Syria. Their territorial gains in Syria and Iraq have fed into their narrative of conquest.
“By most measures, however, ISIL is in a fundamentally weak position. We must not be fooled by its hype. Its ideology is archaic, but its use of the Internet is very modern. ISIL has many more smartphones than guns, more twitter accounts than fighters.
“It does not command broad-based legitimacy even in those areas under its direct control. It is encircled.”
Counter terrorism expert Dr Clarke Jones from the Australian National University noted the change in emphasis from Mr Turnbull and said this is a more effective way in dealing with the problem in Australia.
“What a refreshing way for a Prime Minister to come across, from what we've seen from the previous Prime Minister. I think his statements were very inclusive rather than divisive. So I have all the respect for Minister Turnbull, I think it's a great way to launch into a national security statement".
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