Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Home Affairs, Senator Watt. Minister, can you confirm that the Assistant Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, Mr Julian Hill, has invited United Muslims of Australia, a community group with ties to a sheikh who praised Hamas's attack on 7 October on Israel, to apply for a social cohesion grant from the Commonwealth government?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thanks, Senator Ruston. I am, of course, not aware of what Senator Ruston has asked about. But if I have any further information, I will provide that to the chamber. What I do know and what I think all Australians know is that the terrorist attacks that were carried out by Hamas on October 7, including the murder of young Israelis peacefully attending a music festival, were absolutely abhorrent, and our government has repeatedly and forcefully condemned them.

This parliament unequivocally condemned them in a motion that we passed in October last year. The government also condemned anyone celebrating those attacks, including Mr Dadoun. I think that's how you pronounce his surname. The United Muslims of Australia has a long and successful history of helping many young Muslims in Sydney, providing a space for them to practice their faith and connect with community. The organisation is run by Sheikh Shady Alsuleiman, who is the president of the Australian National Imams Council. He has worked constructively with security agencies and governments, including coalition governments, for many years, bringing Muslim Australians together in their local communities, helping build connections, and tackle division, prejudice and hate. Our government supports activities that do seek to bring young Muslim Australians together in their local communities to build connections and build social cohesion.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Ruston, first supplementary?

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Last week, the Daily Telegraph reported United Muslims of Australia's Sheikh Ibrahim Dadoun praised the October 7 terrorist attacks against Israel at a rally organised by extremist group Hizb ut-Tahrir shortly after the attacks, saying: 'It's a day of courage. It's a day of happiness. It's a day of pride. It's a day of victory.' Minister, how does giving taxpayer money to a hate preacher improve social cohesion?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Ruston. I understand that the questions that Senator Ruston raises relate to objections that appeared in some media outlets last week. As I've said, the United Muslims of Australia organisation is either run or led by Sheikh Shady Al-Sulieman. He is a well-respected and well-regarded Muslim leader in our community. In fact, he has worked with security agencies and governments, including coalition governments, for many years. As I said earlier, the UMA has a long and successful history of helping many young Muslims in Australia. In fact, you probably wouldn't have to look very far to find evidence of Mr Morrison, the former Liberal Prime Minister, meeting with Sheikh Shady when he was the Prime Minister and that is because Sheikh Shady is respected within the Muslim community and beyond.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Ruston, a second supplementary?

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Will the Minister for Home Affairs intervene to ensure that no taxpayer money will go to an organisation promoting extremist antisemitic views, and will Assistant Minister Hill be counselled by his extreme lack of judgement?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As I said, the United Muslims of Australia organisation has a strong track record of helping many young Muslims in Sydney. This is a time when all governments and all political parties party should be encouraging social cohesion within our community. I understand that is a concept that is foreign to the Liberal Party. Organisations like the United Muslims of Australia regularly bring young Muslims together to build connections and to tackle division, prejudice and hate.