Editorial
The Daily Telegraph
October 9, 2015
THREE days. That’s how long Police Minister Troy Grant says it can take a Muslim youth to be turned into a terrorist.
Three days. That’s how long Malcolm Turnbull has been silent on the threat of terrorism in Australia.
At a time when the nation is crying out for leadership, is desperate for someone to espouse our values, acknowledge our fears and lead the fight to expunge religious extremism from our midst, the prime minister has been silent as a statue.
Instead it has been left to Premier Mike Baird — a man more in tune with ordinary people — to come out and say what the nation already knows: “This (the murder of Curtis Cheng) is a terrorist incident. That’s what it is — there is no doubt about it. We have to ensure that we don’t see incidents like this again.”
He also said there was “no doubt” that Sydney had an Islamic extremist problem. Baird’s simple words have captured the mood of average Australians, while Mr Turnbull’s haughty refusal to even discuss the problem gives the distinct impression that we hysterical and weak-minded mortals are all in a dither over nothing while he concentrates on weightier matters such as, er, launching finance apps.
Just as silent has been much of the official Islamic leadership in this country, as the Police Minister — himself a former officer who knows trouble when he sees it — has noted. If they are truly opposed to extremism and if Islam is truly a religion of peace they should be the first ones to stand up and be counted among the many Australians expressing their shock and abhorrence at this act and those before it.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister is doing little to cement his self-proclaimed reputation as a master communicator who rolled Tony Abbott because the latter was incapable of conveying clear messages. Say what you like about our last PM, at least he knew terrorism when he saw it.
If indeed Mr Turnbull is resetting the national response to extremism then let him say so, and more than that let him outline what action his government will take to ensure we expunge this threat from our communities.
Or if he does not see it as a major threat, let him come clean and declare that to the Australian people. Our nation needs straight talk and leadership. It is time our Prime Minister showed he is capable of both.
CHECKS WILL RULE OUT RISKS
THE threat of terror comes from both within and without any nation, as does the challenge of integrating the masses of asylum seekers from Syria into the West. Australia, to the great credit of the former prime minister, is playing its part with the intake of 12,000 Syrian refugees, yet even this fine humanitarian act is not without its risks.
In Europe, which is being overrun by fleeing migrants not seen since World War II, even the most progressive leaders are realising the continent is at breaking point.
There are reports that just one in five of the migrants entering Europe are from Syria — putting lie to claims that a colossal EU-wide effort is needed to accommodate the refugees from that sorrowful war-torn country. The chief victims of this, of course, are the genuine Syrian refugees.
Now Europe is planning a mass deportation of non-genuine refugees in response to the ever-growing influx and deploying warships to, you guessed it, stop the boats.
Of course in Australia it is a method already tried and proven. Once more Tony Abbott’s hardline stance on national security and border protection has been vindicated.
As Europe is in crisis, swamped by an unchecked wave of asylum seekers, Australia is planning to provide a safe haven to thousands of genuine refugees whose credentials and background will be checked — a response of both compassion and intelligence.
Who’s the humane one now?
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