The Northern Territory wants to ensure that the "wrong people" are not being let into Australia, and is happy to take "non-Muslim" Syrian refugees, the chief minister said.
Adam Giles told Mix 104.9 FM in Darwin on Monday that last year the NT offered to take some of the 12,000 additional Syrian refugees coming to Australia as part of an increased humanitarian intake.
"I said we'd be happy to take some of those persecuted Syrian women and families who were from a non-Muslim background, people who couldn't be radicalised, people who weren't radicalised, and people who had major security checks," he said.
"We still take that position that we will support people from the right backgrounds to support them from a humanitarian point of view, but we've just got to be vigilant and make sure we're not letting the wrong people in Australia, because there are people out there who are doing their best to harm our way of life in western society... it's not all Muslims, so I'm not saying that."
Reporters asked Mr Giles whether he was saying Muslim Syrians were not welcome in the NT.
"That's not right, but there are many Christians who are being persecuted in Syria and they're part of the refugees we're taking as part of Australia's humanitarian intake," he replied.
When asked if Muslim refugees were welcome in the NT, he said: "of course, there are many Muslims in our community".
Opposition Leader Michael Gunner slammed Mr Giles' comments as "repugnant".
"You're making a mistake if you set someone up at the gate and say, 'sorry, you're not allowed in, we're going to take that person and not this one, you both might be in danger but we're only taking non-Muslims; I think it sends a horrific message to our vibrant multicultural community," he said.
"When the CLP's back gets (against) the wall they make a decision to go racist ... We should be looking after anyone who's a refugee and not putting this repugnant filter on it. I find it offensive, personally."
