Take our country back from extremists

Irecently attended the Sydney Jewish Museum. The security was akin to Sydney Airport. It is the same at Jewish schools. Why does Australia – once one of the most relaxed, safest, multicultural, multiethnic, mutlfaith, multi everything places on the planet – need such security?

Our multicultural, multifaith, multiethnic society is under attack because of a war in the Middle East.

The world changed on October 7, when the ruling government in Gaza,

Hamas, and its allies like Islamic Jihad invaded Israel. It was a declaration of war in the worst possible way.

The invaders celebrated, cheered and laughed over the bloodletting. The victims were paraded in Gaza as trophies and war booty.

What has this to do with Australia? Within hours there were celebrations of the attack. Jews were told to stay home for their safety.

Australians, because of fear, had to hide their religious symbols and clothing. Marchers issued threats, businesses were hit with boycotts, and roadblocks appeared to stop trading. People were calling for Israel to be annihilated. Jews and Israelis to be slaughtered. And politicians and police did nothing.

Over the decades millions of migrants have come to help build and make this nation the greatest. There are people who come here to destroy that greatness or trash it.

Governments, police and institutions need to send a clear message that intolerance will not be tolerated. How to do this?

First, politicians, police, courts and institutions need to protect all Australians and the law needs to be enforced.

Second, any person calling for jihad or violence against Australians needs to be arrested and deported if a noncitizen. If a citizen, then off to jail. Third, UNRWA funding must stop. Fourth, people or organisations spreading lies, intolerance and violence against Australians should be banned from coming here.

Fifth, the Iranian-founded and backed Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) needs to be listed as a terrorist organisation by Canberra.

The country I was born in, I am Indigenous to, and I have grown up in has changed for the worse. Will that be forever?

In the week since the knifing of Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel, I have seen an outpouring of forgiveness and coming together as a nation and people. I hope this continues as we are all Australians.

One nation, one people.

It will continue to get worse, only if the politicians, police and institutions keep on doing nothing.

Nyunggai Warren Mundine AO is a Sydney businessman and commentator