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

It is fair to say that the religious advisory committee is, as I said, made up of representatives of a number of different faiths with considerable breadth of opinion. I do not agree with the opinions of every member of the religious advisory committee. It plays an important role in advising the Department of Defence. It does not provide chaplaincy or play any role in Defence policy formulation. Some of the commentary that has been disseminated has considerably misrepresented Sheikh Saleem and the appropriateness of his appointment, it is fair to say. When the decision was made, I am advised that it was a considered decision by the Australian government to expand the size and diversity of the religious advisory committee. Sheikh Saleem is a well respected leader in the Victorian Islamic community who is well known not just to the Commonwealth government but to the Victorian government as well. He is a member of both the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils and the Australian National Imams Council, and he may support— (Time expired)