The push to outlaw religious discrimination should be revived and counter-terrorism laws should be reviewed, according to a landmark report by Australia’s first Islamophobia envoy. Source: ABC News.
Aftab Malik, who was appointed to the newly created role last year, delivered his 54 recommendations on Friday, including calls for twin inquiries into the prevalence of Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian racism.
“The reality is that Islamophobia in Australia has been persistent, at times ignored and at other times denied, but never fully addressed,” Mr Malik told reporters.
“These recommendations aim to engender a fair, respectful and inclusive environment, one that actively combats prejudice and hate, but importantly respects fundamental freedoms.”
Attempts to legislate protections for religious belief, similar to those that already exist for race, gender and sexuality, have failed in each of the past two parliaments.
Last term, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese refused to publish a draft bill because he could not secure the Coalition’s support, saying at the time he did not want a debate likely to inflame community tension.
Appearing alongside Mr Malik on Friday, Mr Albanese said this remained his position.
“I certainly support religious discrimination legislation, but I don’t support starting a debate that leads to rancour … I’m certainly willing to engage, as I have always been.”
Mr Albanese said his government would consider all of Mr Malik’s recommendations but emphasised they were made independently, the same approach he took to a report from anti-Semitism envoy Jillian Segal in July.
Mr Albanese did not indicate a timeline for responding to the recommendations but welcomed the review and said he was determined to nurture social cohesion.
“At a time when there’s conflict in the world, I really see that Australia can be a microcosm of what we want the world to be, a place where people live side-by-side in harmony,” he said.
FULL STORY
Islamophobia envoy calls for religious discrimination laws, review of approach to counter-terrorism (By Tom Crowley, ABC News)
