George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

The Prime Minister was absolutely correct to say that—absolutely correct to say that. With all due respect to Senator Hanson, I think she was quite wrong to make the observation that she made. I might say to you, Mr President, that the advice that I have received for as long as I have been the Attorney, which is 3½ years now, from both ASIO and the Australian Federal Police is that constructive engagement with Islamic leaders, with Muslim leaders, in Australia is absolutely vital to their work in anticipating the conduct of terrorists and terrorist recruiters and terrorist financiers in Australian Islamic communities and stopping it. So I would implore all members of the Senate, every last single member of the Senate—through you, Mr President—including you, Senator Hanson, when making the observations you do, which you are perfectly entitled to make about multiculturalism, to remember that the overwhelming majority of the members of the Australian Muslim community are peace-loving, patriotic, loyal Australians whose cooperation we badly need.