Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Bernardi for his question. As we all know, the Australian Defence Force is committed to providing support to its members and seeking out information on non-Christian faiths, in the very broad, to improve our cultural understanding. Of course, more broadly, any Australian citizen and permanent resident eligible for Australian citizenship can apply to join the ADF. We are also committed to providing support to members of all faith groups, therefore—including the Muslim faith. Diversity and inclusion are fundamental elements of modern Australia and of the ADF. Employing personnel and advisers with different cultural and linguistic backgrounds does increase Defence's capabilities and, therefore, its combat power—quite literally. Through diversity we gain additional skills and varied perspectives which are needed to conduct our effective operations in the modern combat environment. We are literally doing that every day at the moment in Iraq in particular, and in Afghanistan as well.

Sheikh Saleem, who is a Muslim member of the Religious Advisory Committee to the Services, was appointed on 5 June 2015—an appointment which precedes my commencement in this role. It is not—and I think it is important to make this clear—what has been misconstrued in certain areas as a Defence Imam. That is not a position that exists. The Religious Advisory Committee to the Services serves as the link between the Australian Defence Force and the governing bodies of churches and denominational groups on religious matters. It is comprised of non-uniformed representatives at Bishop or equivalent levels, depending on the faith, and they do not speak on behalf of Defence. While the religious advisory committee plays an important role— (Time expired)