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

What I was saying, in response to Senator Bernardi's previous question, is that indeed Sheikh Saleem may support views that are expressed by the organisations of which he is a member. He has some of his own. Clearly, I do not necessarily agree with them all, and Defence does not necessarily agree with them all. We, of course, support his right to express those views, but we do not always agree with them. He is not a member of the Australian Defence Force. He is engaged in extensive chaplaincy and interpreter work for the Department of Immigration and Border Protection, for the Victorian prison system, for Victoria Police and for the Australian Federal Police. He has worked with the Commonwealth Attorney-General's Department as we endeavour to engage with the Australian Islamic community to counter Islamic extremism and protect at-risk youth.

If there is any further information that Senator Bernardi wishes to bring to my attention, then I am, of course, very happy to hear it, but it is part of the diversity of the system that ensures that we have a representation broadly across all faiths in Australia that the religious advisory committee fulfils.