Media Release: Labor’s inaction is enabling radical Islamic terrorism. One Nation is demanding targeted federal powers against fundamentalist Islamic terrorism following reports today that a Melbourne preacher urged followers to “take up arms” against Christians and Jews in Australia. One Nation leader Senator Pauline Hanson said Labor is choosing to turn a blind eye to terrorist advocacy and recruitment and needs to address these issues head-on. “The first duty of government is to protect Australians. Labor is failing at this duty,” Senator Hanson said. “Fifteen people were murdered in a terrorist act at Bondi. Now Australians are reading reports of an Islamic preacher urging followers to take up arms against Australian Christians and Jews. How much more do Albanese and Burke need to hear? “Labor and the Greens keep reaching for broad laws covering the whole community because they are too scared to confront radical Islamic terrorism directly. “Stop lecturing the whole country and pretending every group presents the same risk. Create laws that go directly after fundamentalist Islamic preachers encouraging terrorist violence, the recruiters and the networks supporting them. Christians aren’t calling for jihad. Hindus aren’t calling for jihad. “We need stronger federal powers to shut down the extremist and fundamentalist mosques and Islamic prayer centres. These centres are popping up across our suburbs and seemingly allowing terrorist recruitment and advocacy to fester unchecked. “Give ASIO and the AFP the resources and targeted powers to dismantle these networks. If current laws are inadequate, change them. “Foreign terrorist fighters must also be kept out. People who voluntarily joined ISIS chose a terrorist organisation over Australia. Labor must put the safety of Australians first and stop blocking One Nation’s Foreign Terrorist Fighters Bill. “We also call for an immediate stop to new migration from countries DFAT rates ‘do not travel’ because of serious terrorism, kidnapping and violent crime. The government cannot dismiss its own security warnings when deciding who enters Australia. “Labor has already been forced to cancel grants because of extremism. The Home Affairs Minister must disclose whether any taxpayer funding is going to Islamic organisations that are encouraging or enabling terrorism. “Bondi should have ended the excuses. Australians must never pay for this government’s political cowardice with their lives.”

The government is soft on terror. Today’s reported arrest in Melbourne of a Somali-born alleged ISIS extremist is confirmation that radical Islamic terror is festering in Australia. After the worst terrorist attack on Australian soil last year, the government is still downplaying the threat of radical Islam. This alleged terrorist is accused of being a member of ISIS and providing instructions to others on how to plan and carry out mass casualty terrorist attacks. The country has watched as Tony Burke has allowed alleged ISIS members back into Australia while secretly facilitating the return of more alleged ISIS fighters. The Prime Minister refused to call the threat what it is: radical Islamic terrorism. Australia’s national terrorism threat level remains ‘probable’, meaning there is a greater than 50 per cent chance of an onshore terrorist attack or attack planning within the next 12 months. First the Albanese government refused to name radical Islamic terrorism in the days after Bondi. Then they were dragged kicking and screaming into calling a Royal Commission. But they made sure it wouldn’t properly examine radical Islamic terrorism. Labor is still refusing to release the Bondi video manifesto because they are too scared of being honest with Australians about the threat of radical Islamic terror. The Prime Minister is too busy jetting overseas to receive a ‘Global Citizen’ award, while the Home Affairs Minister is missing in action and didn’t even front the press conference today to answer questions. National security starts with being upfront with the Australian people. The Home Affairs Minister needs to front the Australian public and start telling them the truth.