Parents are nation’s defenders, leaders say

FOREIGN Minister Julie Bishop is the latest minister to call the shooting death of a police worker “politically-motivated” as the Turnbull Government put parents on the “frontline” of national security.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull was joined by NSW Premier Mike Baird, police leadership and senior Islamic leaders in a late Saturday phone hook-up that delivered a marked shift in engagement with the Muslim community.

Choosing to describe the attack as politically-motivated rather than religiously-motivated, Mr Turnbull spoke of a close working relationship being vital in an open approach to the community after complaints of a divisive attitude by former PM Tony Abbott.

Ms Bishop, who is a member of the Cabinet’s national security committee, continued the more moderate rhetoric yesterday as she spoke of the importance of a “holistic approach” and an “ongoing embrace of solutions”.

“We’re certainly reaching out to the leaders of the Muslim community but working with the families at a grassroots, local level,” she told the ABC’s Insiders program.

“It’s the families that will be our front line of defence against radicalised young people so we will be working very closely with them.”

Police, politicians and community members believe parents are perfectly positioned to notice the signs of radicalisation among young people.

Ms Bishop said it was tragic for the whole of Australia and a time to “take stock” when a 15-year-old boy “can be so radicalised that he can carry out a politically-motivated killing, or an act of terrorism”.

Islamic Council of Queensland spokesman Ali Kadri said families were crucial in helping to eliminate radicalisation in youths and urged local federal MPs to meet Muslim leaders to help address the problems they were facing.

Mr Kadri said discrimination in the community and anti-terror laws had become “triggers” for wayward youth to become radicalised.