Australian PM: "Australia is an immigration nation"

[Bebe 17,289]

Donald Trump's gloating about sexual assault wasn't the only lightning rod of Monday's fiery second presidential debate. Muslims living in America and those seeking to come in as refugees from conflict in the Middle East also came in for a serve.

Mr Trump - who once called for a shutdown of all Muslim immigration to the US - said Islamophobia was "a shame" but that there is an undeniable problem and called on Muslims to report suspicious activity. At the very same time, a world away, the picture couldn't have been more different as Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten rose in Parliament to back a bipartisan motion calling for a respectful and unified Australia.

It highlighted Indigenous people, refugees and Muslims, reaffirming commitment to equal rights, a non-discriminatory immigration policy, reconciliation, multiculturalism and denouncing racism.

"Accordingly, we rise in this Parliament today - as John Howard and Kim Beazley did 20 years ago - to speak on this very motion - a 20-year-old unity ticket perhaps - celebrating and reaffirming the Australian values of a fair go and mutual respect for all regardless of how they look, how they worship or where they come from," the Prime Minister told the House of Representatives.

"Australia is an immigration nation," Mr Turnbull said.

"Today, almost half of us have a parent born overseas and more than a quarter of Australians were born overseas themselves."

He said "everyone sitting in this chamber and every Australian is a beneficiary of the diversity that is at the heart of our nation", before turning to Islam specifically.

"Australia and the world faces the threat of terrorism perpetrated and promoted by extremists who claim to be fighting and killing for Islam," Mr Turnbull said, arguing terrorists "blaspheme Islam" and have been condemned by Muslims.

"Now the object of these terrorists is to divide Islam by driving a wedge of violence between Muslims, between Sunni and Shia and to turn Muslims against the West and the West against Muslims.

"The resolution of this conflict within Islam will ultimately depend on Muslims, but in the meantime the Islamist terrorists have succeeded in raising levels of anxiety about Muslim immigration, about the role of Islam itself within Australia."

....

"Mr Turnbull said Muslim Australians are an integral part of the country and that those seeking to do harm are a tiny minority.

"The terrorists want the wider Australian community to turn against Australian Muslims. Their message to Australian Muslims is 'you are not wanted here, you will never be accepted here, you cannot be Australian'," he said.

"The most effective weapon against the terrorists is an inclusive nation."

Mr Shorten (Opposition Leader) said the word "tolerance" was no longer adequate and said Australians "embrace diversity".

Read More: http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/as-donald-trump-questioned-muslims-turnbull-and-shorten-did-something-remarkable-20161010-gryqxy.html

I'm so glad, Australia has some big steps to go, but this was so needed. Especially after the shocking poll that found 49 per cent of respondents supported a ban on Muslim migration to Australia, citing concerns about integration, divergent values and terrorism. I don't want people think Turnbull is some cool guy though, he is a conservative **** generally.

[Nicole 1,809]

I'm still interested to see how the poll was conducted - was it random selection among all citizens in Australia via the census? Or was it conducted in one state? One postcode? What was the ratio of men/women, Australian-born/immigrants, young and old people. 

Anyway, Turnbull can have this idealistic view but we all also need to take an active role in not tolerating any islamphobia in our country, including the nonsense of Pauline Hanson/One Nation. The media in particular needs to step it up and refuse to give her the platform to spread her discriminatory + racist views. It's damaging.

He is very correct in the role of terrorists in driving a wedge between Australian Muslims and non-Muslims. We need to come together. And that doesn't only involve Muslim's publicly condemning ISIS etc, but it also means that non-Muslims need to support Muslims in a time where they are facing extraordinary discrimination in a very pubic domain. Support their right to practice their religion of choice, protect Muslim women and stand up for them when needs be.