Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy has hit back at former prime minister Scott Morrison and Liberal frontbencher Andrew Bragg’s remarks about Islam in Australia, labelling them “problematic” and “troubling”.
It comes after an address Morrison made at a Jerusalem antisemitism conference overnight, in which he demanded Australian Islamic institutions enforce stricter regulations to quash “radical Islam”, including licensing preachers, translating all sermons into English and setting up a board to police radicals.
Bragg this morning strongly endorsed Morrison’s address, claiming there had been a “mutation of Islam” in Australia.
Speaking to ABC’s Radio National earlier, Conroy said, “I found the whole approach problematic and troubling.
“These [terrorist] 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 to social cohesion. It’s incredibly unfair, and it’s not a recipe for taking this country forward.”
Conroy also delivered a message to Muslim Australians, saying they were welcome to practice in peace just like members of any other religious group.
“You’re incredibly valued Australians, some of the earliest people condemning the vile attacks in Bondi were leaders of our Muslim Australian community. We will continue to support their right to practice in peace, like we support the right of Jewish Australians, Christian Australians, Buddhist Australians, to pursue their religion as long as all laws are followed.”
