(Transcript from SBS World News Radio)
Recent events in both the Middle East and at home have tested the harmony of Australia's multicultural society.
In part, the actions and statements of politicians have been blamed for creating tension in the community.
But largely away from public notice, many members of parliament have spoken out strongly in favour of tolerance and unity between different religions and races.
Sunil Awasthi reports.
(Click on the audio tab above to hear the full report)
With tensions rising in some parts of the community in Australia, many MPs in Canberra are making a point of defending tolerance, multiculturalism and diversity.
It has not made many headlines or news bulletins, but, in the chambers of parliament, they are making their case.
Tim Watts is the member for Gellibrand in inner western Melbourne
Mr Watts is one of the MPs with a larger Islamic population in his electorate.
He has moved to provide soothing words both for, and about, the Islamic community.
"Unfortunately, the recent consideration of national security issues by this parliament has occurred in the context of a national fever dream of fear and paranoia about our Islamic community. As a Member representing an electorate with a very large Islamic community, I want to send a very clear message on this issue. No one in Australia has anything to fear from the Islamic community. There are almost 500,000 Muslims in Australia. In contrast, there are a bare handful of perverted fanatics in this country who would seek to hijack this religion to commit criminal acts in its name."
Perhaps feeling these sentiments most keenly of all is Labor's Ed Husic.
The son of Bosniak immigrants, he swore his ministerial oath on the Koran when he became a minister in the former Rudd government last year.
"The times that test us all are not the times to test trust between ourselves, because it's at this point (that) we seek a stronger embrace of the many (the wider population) around the things we hold dear in this nation. At this moment, our values and way of life are challenged by those who hope to see fear and distrust weaken faith in ourselves and our values."
Several MPs have related details of their communities rallying together against acts of hate.
Labor backbencher Terri Butler is the Member for the electorate of Griffith, spanning the inner southern suburbs of Brisbane.
"(It includes anything from) another woman being asked to take off her headscarf so that someone could set fire to it to vandalising the place of worship at Rocklea, which had also happened up in Mareeba previous to that -- there was vandalism of the mosque at Mareeba. I'm really pleased to say, though, Deputy Speaker, that our community is pulling together to speak out about religious vilification."
Another Labor backbencher, Gai Brodtmann, gave an example from closer to parliament.
"Earlier this year, there was an horrific act of vandalism at the Canberra Islamic Centre in my electorate. Vandals broke into the centre and inflicted as much damage as they possibly could. The response was overwhelming. A few days after the attack there was a working bee to clean up the centre, and more Canberrans showed up to help than there were jobs to do."
But veteran MP Laurie Ferguson says, while people should not be discriminatory towards Muslims, they also should not exaggerate the level of anti-Muslim feeling in Australia.
He says that, too, could contribute to extremism.
"I urge people, whilst we must stand for people's religious and human rights, not to drive into the Islamic community a view that this country is affected by Islamophobia. At the same time that we defend people's rights, we should be very careful not to overstate the degree that this country does suffer from a sense of discrimination and segregation."
While some politicians are calling on the community to rise to the occasion, some within the parliament are also calling on other politicians to do likewise.
Shadow Communications Minister Jason Clare is one speaking out.
"And at times like this, we need to act like leaders. We need to work together to bring the community together. The things that we say and the things that we do in this place matter."
Ultimately, the challenge of multiculturalism and unity in diversity is one that arguably begins at the grassroots of communities.
And that is something not lost on many called upon to represent the community.
Jason Clare has spoken to that point as well.
"When I talk to kids at schools in my electorate, I say, 'We're like a fruit salad. We all like apples, we all like oranges, we all like watermelon, but they're better when they're all together.' And that's the same with us, it's the same with Australia. We're better when we're all together. That's us. Not people preaching poison or morons making death threats."
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