Broadbent has say on Islam “diatribe”
Federal Member for McMillan Russell Broadbent has attacked the views of a fellow Coalition member and others in Parliament that “appeal to fear and prejudice”.
In a speech to the House of Representatives last Tuesday night Mr Broadbent described a speech in the House in September by The Nationals Member for Dawson in Queensland, George Christensen, as a “diatribe about the rise of Islam” in Australia.
Mr Broadbent also took aim at One Nation Senator Pauline Hanson and those on his own (political) side that were “prone to cuddling up to Hansonite rhetoric”.
He said he was “not proud” to have not challenged Mr Christensen’s address at the time.
Mr Christensen’s and Senator Hanson’s comments about “violent extremism and dangerous Muslims” only further inflamed the views of the prejudiced, Mr Broadbent said, pointing to the fact that One Nation received only 1.29 per cent of first preference votes at this year’s election.
He said he understood the fear of Islamic-based terrorism and the government was responding to that with every resource available.
“We cannot condemn the whole of the Muslim community for the actions of a crazy, dangerous few”.
“Otherwise, the people that hate all that is good about this nation will win, ‘ Mr Broadbent said in his speech.
He said there should always be empathy and consideration for those doing it tough.
If we don’t we further push those alienated and disaffected by economic and social exclusion into the arms of the One Nations of this country, Mr Broadbent added.