Sharon Claydon (Newcastle, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise to condemn an attack by vandals on the Islamic Centre of Newcastle. Last Thursday night, eggs were thrown at the Islamic centre in suburban Mayfield. While no major damage occurred, gratuitous attacks such as this are a disgrace.

The Islamic Centre of Newcastle is very much valued within the Mayfield and broader Newcastle community. The mosque has an open-door policy and does not entertain reformist political or ideological agendas. They openly work with the Australian Federal Police and other authorities to try and stop the radicalisation of youths within the Newcastle and Hunter community. Just last weekend, the centre celebrated the United Nations International Day of Peace with theologians, representatives from the Christian and Buddhist communities, academics and members of the NSW Police.

Multiculturalism is one of our nation's greatest gifts. One of the markers of a free and democratic society is tolerance, understanding and acceptance of one another. Any actions or activities that derogate from those liberties, freedom of association and freedom to worship in ways we want are a tragedy and a disgrace. We will not overcome hatred with hatred; we will not overcome intolerance by being intolerant.

Ill-informed and inflammatory comments about Islam and criminal actions such as those at the Mayfield mosque are as unhelpful as they are unfair. Muslim Australians should not be stigmatised for the crimes of ISIL, as ISIL's twisted ideology bears no relation to a faith of peace and tolerance which is followed by millions of people worldwide and thousands of Australians and Novocastrians.