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The federal government is reviewing recommendations from a comprehensive report on combating Islamophobia released last week, but has made no commitments to implement specific measures, prompting criticism from Labor MP Ed Husic that such action should have occurred decades earlier.
Speaking on ABC's Afternoon Briefing Tuesday, Husic said Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's response to consider the Special Envoy to Combat Islamophobia report was natural and consistent with the government's approach to a similar anti-Semitism report.
"I thought the Prime Minister's response was a natural one because he gave the exact same one when the anti-Semitism report was brought down," Husic said. "I think the view of the government was to have both reports handed down and then consider them together. So I think that's a sensible position."
However, the Western Sydney MP expressed frustration that Australia had operated without a special envoy focused on Islamophobia for two decades following the September 11 attacks, despite escalating discrimination against Muslim Australians and others mistaken for Muslims.
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Report Highlights Targeting of Muslim Women
The comprehensive report included a foreword by Australian cricket star Usman Khawaja that Husic described as "really telling," particularly regarding experiences of Muslim women who face targeting for wearing the hijab.
"He talks about what happened to his mum at the MCG during a test," Husic said, referring to Khawaja's account of discrimination his mother faced at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Husic emphasized that Islamophobia disproportionately affects Muslim women due to visible religious symbols they wear.
"I think Islamophobia is felt much more by Muslim women who are targeted for their wearing of the hijab," he said.
The report's findings come as the government considers both Islamophobia and anti-Semitism reports together, according to Husic's understanding of the administration's approach to addressing religious discrimination.
Two Decades Without Focused Response
Husic criticized the extended period Australia operated without dedicated attention to rising Islamophobia, noting the discrimination extended beyond Muslim Australians to affect other communities.
"We lived through 20 years post September 11, never had an envoy, particularly focusing on Islamophobia as it was starting to escalate," he said. "And it impacted as well. It ricocheted on other groups like Sikh Australians who were targeted because they were wearing turbans and they were mistaken as Muslims and they copped it as well."
The MP argued that Australia's delayed response to combating Islamophobia represented a missed opportunity to address discrimination that affected multiple religious and ethnic communities over two decades.
The lack of focused government action during this period, according to Husic, came as incidents of religious discrimination and hate crimes increased following global events and heightened security concerns.
Connection to Christchurch Attack Highlighted
Husic drew direct connections between unchecked Islamophobia in Australia and the 2019 Christchurch mosque shootings that killed 51 people, arguing the nation has avoided necessary conversations about radicalization.
"We've never really had, I think, a straightforward, frank national discussion about the fact that an Australian who basically started to be radicalised through Islamophobia went to New Zealand and killed 51 people on the basis of their faith," he said.
The Australian-born gunman who carried out the Christchurch attacks had spent time in Australia and was influenced by online extremist content and anti-Muslim sentiment, according to investigations following the massacre.
Husic argued this connection demonstrates the importance of addressing Islamophobia as a national security and public safety issue, not merely a matter of social cohesion or civil rights.
"And I think we've not had that open discussion, frankly, and we need to," he said. "I think it's important to do it."
Government Response Mirrors Anti-Semitism Report Handling
The Prime Minister's measured response to the Islamophobia report follows the same pattern as the government's handling of a separate report on anti-Semitism, according to Husic's assessment of the administration's approach.
Albanese announced last week he would consider the recommendations but stopped short of committing to specific measures or timelines for implementation, drawing some criticism from advocacy groups seeking immediate action.
The government appointed Special Envoys to Combat both Anti-Semitism and Islamophobia as part of efforts to address rising religious discrimination and hate crimes affecting both Jewish and Muslim communities.
Both reports contain extensive recommendations covering education, law enforcement, community engagement and legislative measures designed to reduce discrimination and improve safety for targeted communities.
Timing Criticized as Long Overdue
While acknowledging the importance of the report's release, Husic expressed regret that similar action had not occurred years earlier when discrimination against Muslim Australians first escalated following international events.
"For a lot of people who've watched for 20 years, they really would have benefited from something like this years earlier," he said.
The MP characterized his criticism as "advocating a spilt milk argument that's very hard to change given the passage of time," acknowledging the difficulty of addressing past inaction while emphasizing the importance of current efforts.
Muslim advocacy groups have long called for government action to address rising incidents of discrimination, harassment and violence targeting their communities, particularly women wearing visible religious symbols.
Broader Impact on Religious Communities
The discrimination extended beyond Muslim Australians to affect other religious and ethnic minorities who were mistakenly targeted due to physical appearance or religious dress, according to Husic's observations.
Sikh Australians faced particular challenges as turbans were sometimes misidentified as Muslim religious dress, leading to harassment and discrimination intended for a different community, he noted.
"Sikh Australians who were targeted because they were wearing turbans and they were mistaken as Muslims and they copped it as well," Husic said.
This broader impact demonstrates how religious discrimination and hate crimes can affect multiple communities simultaneously, creating challenges for law enforcement and policymakers seeking to address specific forms of bias.
Report Recommendations Under Review
The Special Envoy's report contains numerous recommendations covering various aspects of combating Islamophobia, though specific details of proposed measures have not been publicly released by the government.
Advocacy groups are awaiting government decisions on which recommendations will be adopted and what timeline will guide implementation of specific measures designed to reduce discrimination.
The report represents months of consultation with Muslim communities, law enforcement agencies, educational institutions and other stakeholders involved in addressing religious discrimination.
Community leaders have expressed cautious optimism about government consideration of the report while emphasizing the need for concrete action rather than symbolic gestures.
Parallel Process with Anti-Semitism Efforts
The government's decision to consider both the Islamophobia and anti-Semitism reports together reflects an approach aimed at addressing religious discrimination comprehensively rather than focusing on individual communities in isolation.
Both Jewish and Muslim communities in Australia have reported increasing incidents of discrimination, harassment and violence in recent years, prompting government appointments of Special Envoys to examine each issue.
The parallel process allows policymakers to identify common themes and develop coordinated responses that address religious discrimination broadly while recognizing specific challenges facing different communities.
However, some advocates argue that different communities face distinct forms of discrimination requiring tailored responses rather than generic approaches to religious intolerance.
Implementation Timeline Uncertain
The government has not announced specific timelines for decisions on report recommendations or implementation of potential measures to combat Islamophobia.
Albanese's commitment to "consider" the recommendations leaves open questions about which specific proposals might be adopted and what resources would be allocated to address identified problems.
The lack of immediate commitments reflects the government's cautious approach to complex social issues requiring coordination across multiple agencies and levels of government.
Community groups continue advocating for swift action on report recommendations while acknowledging the challenges of implementing comprehensive responses to deeply rooted social problems.
Long-term Implications for Social Cohesion
The delayed government response to rising Islamophobia represents broader challenges Australia faces in maintaining social cohesion amid increasing diversity and global tensions affecting domestic communities.
Religious discrimination affects not only targeted individuals but entire communities and the broader social fabric of multicultural Australian society, according to advocates and researchers studying these issues.
The government's handling of both Islamophobia and anti-Semitism reports will likely influence future approaches to addressing discrimination against other religious and ethnic minorities in Australia.
Success or failure in implementing effective measures could determine whether Australia develops comprehensive frameworks for preventing religious discrimination or continues addressing such issues reactively rather than proactively.
The Special Envoy reports represent the most comprehensive government examination of religious discrimination in Australia, with their implementation potentially establishing precedents for future policy responses to hate crimes and community safety concerns.
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