A Labor frontbencher has condemned comments from a Liberal MP and the party's former leader appearing to blame Australian Muslims in the wake of last year's Bondi terrorist attack.
Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy said the rhetoric was "troubling", hours after former prime minister Scott Morrison called on religious leaders to "take responsibility" for a rise in antisemitism.
Overnight, Morrison urged Muslim leaders to establish nationally consistent standards for imam conduct, create a system of accreditation for preachers, and a peak body that could discipline radical preachers.
Speaking at an antisemitism conference in Israel, he said religious leaders need to "take accountability and responsibility for what's happening in their own faiths".
He also suggested religious teachings be translated into English.
Liberal Senator Andrew Bragg said the idea of accrediting preachers was a "worthwhile discussion" to have, while stating that the Australian Muslim community had to "take some responsibility for the behaviours we've seen exhibited over the last couple of decades".
"Unfortunately, it has been a pattern of behaviour that some of these smaller incidents, and now we have had a significant terrorist incident, have emerged from these communities," Bragg told ABC radio.
"We're very proud to be a diverse community in Australia, but we have to be honest and open when there are problems," he said.
Conroy has labelled the approach "really problematic and troubling".
"We've been very clear these acts were committed by people who believed an extreme perversion of Islam, and to try and hold the entire Islamic community responsible for these acts, I think, is anti-social cohesion," he told ABC radio.
"It's incredibly unfair, and it's not a recipe for taking this country forward."
He reiterated that the Muslim community were "incredibly valued Australians", highlighting that Muslim leaders were among the first to condemn the attack in Bondi.
In an opinion piece for the Australian newspaper, Morrison wrote that in Australia, "Christian and Jewish denominations operate under strong governance frameworks.
"Islamic institutions, by contrast, remain fragmented and inconsistently governed."
In December, two gunmen — who police allege were father and son Sajid and Naveed Akram — opened fire near a Hanukkah event at the iconic Sydney beach, killing 15 people.
One of the deadliest terror attacks in Australian history prompted parliament to return for two emergency days last week to pass a suite of new reforms.
It included gun law reforms that strengthened background checks and firearms importation rules.
The legislation also bans hate groups and has increased penalties for hate speech.
The anti-hate speech reforms were passed with the support of the Liberals, triggering a Coalition breakup after the Nationals splintered off to vote against the laws.
It has resulted in feverish speculation about the future of Sussan Ley as Opposition leader, with questions about who could take the top job and reunite the Coalition against the rapid rise in support for One Nation.
For the latest from SBS News, download our app and subscribe to our newsletter.
