After beheadings by Islamic State militants, Australia's renewed military involvement in Iraq and anti-terrorism raids around Brisbane, attacks on Queensland's Muslim communities are mounting.
Yesterday, Queensland's Multicultural Affairs Minister Glen Elmes organised a meeting in Brisbane to ensure the voices of those truly representing the communities are heard on the issues.
"The government, if you like, played matchmaker and brought the media and the Muslim community of south-east Queensland together," he said."What we want to do is make sure that the lines of communication are opened up, so that, if there is a story going around, the media has a number of points to be able to go to so they can get comments -- get accurate comments -- from people who have been endorsed by the community to speak on their behalf."
Dozens of journalists from television, radio and print media attended the meeting.
Four community representatives put themselves forward, two men and two women.
One was Dr Mohamad Abdalla, director of Griffith University's Islamic Research Centre.
"Whenever there is an international conflict, we find some politicians and, of course, some journalists who try to take advantage of the situation and portray the wider Muslim community and blame them, in fact -- for example, blaming Islam or sharia law or blaming Muslim leaders for not engaging enough and substantially with the youth -- and that is inaccurate. We have to appreciate the fact that the Muslim leaders of this country want this country's protection as much as anyone else, and they want to make sure that there are no extremists or there is no behaviour that goes against both the teachings of Islam and the law of this land."
It comes amid growing tensions in Queensland.
Earlier this month, several Gold Coast councillors reported recieving death and rape threats over plans for a proposed mosque.
Local media have reported women in hijabs being verbally and physically attacked.
There was a rowdy demonstration against another proposed mosque on the state's Sunshine Coast.
Minister Glen Elmes condemns the action of what he describes as a core of despicable rednecks.
"A number of people who were involved in that particular demonstration were also involved on the Gold Coast," he said.
"I know that they've been involved in different events here in Brisbane. They're just travelling rednecks, and they'll go anywhere where there is an opportunity to get their faces in front of a television camera and to show just how despicable a group of human beings they are."
Minister Elmes has visited many of the mosques in Queensland. He says his experience of the Muslim communities is an overwhelmingly positive one.
"I find a caring community, a community that's been here a long time. They didn't hop off the boat or the aircraft yesterday or the day before."
"They've been here a lot longer than most families that I know of. And they want to do what everyone else wants to do -- they want to raise a family and own a home and get a career and see their children on the right path to success. The same as everyone else.
Dr Mohamad Abdalla says such support from the Queensland government is great reassurance for the communities at what is a difficult time for everyone.
"This is a wonderful initiative. I think it shows good leadership, positive leadership, and, hopefully, other politicians will follow suit from this. It shows that, unless we work together, we will not be able to tackle this social problem together."
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