In today’s Australian newspaper, Assistant Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Concetta Fierravanti-Wells has shown the leadership Malcolm Turnbull has failed to show on Tony Abbott’s divisive comments about Islam.

Unlike Malcolm Turnbull, the Assistant Minister has made clear that “megaphone politics” is extremely unhelpful.

In contrast, Malcolm Turnbull provided this non-response: "I'm not sure what the response is other than to say that he's entitled to his opinion.”

The Prime Minister should have clearly repudiated Tony Abbott’s divisive comments.

The fact that he failed to do so is a fundamental failure of judgement on his part. 

The Australian Muslim community has been working with our police and security agencies to counter violent extremism. This is crucial work.

As the former Director General of ASIO, David Irvine has said:

“We should also recognise that the strongest defence against violent extremism lies within the Australian Muslim community itself.”

Inflammatory remarks undermine efforts to build social cohesion and mutual respect and should be condemned by political and community leaders.

WEDNESDAY, 16 DECEMBER 2015