Letter Published In The Age Tuesday 5 September 2006

Phong Nguyen, Chairperson ECCV

The Federal Government must show greater leadership in dealing with Australia’s multicultural communities. Recent comments by senior Federal Government leaders are doing nothing to promote goodwill and harmony in our community between fellow Australians. Demonising Australian Muslims is only going to further isolate and marginalise decent law abiding Australian Muslims from other Australians. Our leaders must send a message that all types of extremism in our community are unwanted, regardless of the creed or culture of those carrying it out. The great majority of the Australian Muslim community are decent, law-abiding and proud Australians. The Government must stop demonising them.