Page 2259 - Week 08 - Tuesday, 28 August 2007
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The last thing I would like to touch on relates to tension within the Muslim community, an issue that was raised in the media over the weekend and last week. The minister talks often about harmony and peace in the Muslim community and between the Muslim community and the broader multicultural community. It is right for him to talk often about that, and we support him entirely.
I know that the minister is aware of simmering tensions within the ACT Muslim community over the management and leadership of the Canberra mosque, with yet another controversial changing of the guard in the last week or so. (Second speaking period taken.) I am sure that the minister is aware of tensions relating to both the leadership and management of the Canberra mosque. Alarmingly, we continue to see strong allegations in the ACT and national media alleging extremist preaching and mismanagement of funds for the management of that mosque. I am sure that the minister is well aware of those reports.
When the minister replies to this debate or when we discuss multicultural issues later he might let us know whether he is aware of those tensions and those allegations. In relation to those allegations is the minister being well advised by the appropriate authorities? On the one hand there are allegations in the newspapers, and on the other hand there are allegations from a section of the community, which it might be said has its own agenda anyway.
Mr Hargreaves and I are in no position to know what is happening in relation to those allegations. However, those allegations have been made and those tensions are there. Hopefully something will be done about it to ensure good harmony in our community. I want to know whether the minister is being well advised by the authorities on both issues—those allegations and those tensions. Is the minister able to advise us whether he is aware of external funding for the Canberra mosque from three embassies?
Does the minister happen to know whether that funding is being allocated to a Canberra mosque committee which will be accountable to its membership for any expenditure? I am aware that that is not a government responsibility, as it does not involve any ACT government funding. However, given that this activity sits beneath the ACT multiculturalism umbrella and that the minister and all members are keen to ensure that there are no ongoing tensions, what will the minister do to help that community get through this problem?
Are funds from those three embassies being given to a single person who will spend it on that mosque as he sees fit, or are those funds being given, more properly and as is the normal practice, to a multicultural community committee? If that is the case, that is a good way in which to reduce tensions. Will the minister answer a couple of those questions at some time during debate on Tuesday or Thursday? I know that he does not have direct responsibility for these matters, but he has a moral responsibility, as Minister for Multicultural Affairs, to exercise a bit of leadership and influence.
The minister, who has a lot of influence, can help the multicultural community to resolve these problems and ease those tensions. I look forward to the minister’s advice on that. I would also like to know whether funding for special events—I think it is
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