Divided we fall victim of suspicion

Australia’s multicultural society is an example to the rest of the world of how people from diverse backgrounds can combine to build a peaceful and strong nation.

The key to our success is interaction between our various parts. As successive waves of immigrants have settled in Australia, from early Chinese arrivals to post-war Europeans and southeast Asians, each group has gradually blended into the broader community.

More than that, each group has brought something new and distinctive to the broader community. Individual identity is maintained while at the same time a cohesive society grows.

Interaction remains the key. This is why the plan by Qartaba Homes to offer “100 per cent Halal housing to the growing Muslim community of Australia” in Sydney’s west should be of concern. Rather than promoting interaction, a housing project aimed at one sector of the community could create barriers and division.

Sydney’s Islamic community has long been a valued part of our city’s mainstream. It’s an ongoing process that should be allowed to continue. We are the richer for it.

It is true there are occasional flash points of stress between Islamic Australians and the rest of the community. The answer is not to withdraw into a suburb where interaction is limited only to people of identical beliefs.

Contrary to the old saying, familiarity does not breed contempt. It breeds security and warmth. An isolated and exclusive community, however, may well breed suspicion and unfriendliness.

Fireys saved the day

More than 130 fires blazed across NSW late yesterday, 40 of them categorised as uncontained. During the day, 26,000ha of our state were consumed by flames.

And while it is too early to imagine the threat is behind us, lives and houses were still saved. This is partly due to citizens taking notice of warnings and following proper fire protection guidelines, but overwhelmingly our thanks must go to selfless and heroic volunteer firefighters.

Hundreds of volunteers worked throughout the day and into the night to contain fires that otherwise might have put lives and property at risk. Their own lives, of course, were placed in danger. Our volunteers put it all on the line for the sake of NSW, supported by thousands more volunteers waiting to be called up.

The sheer enormity of the challenge taken up by our volunteers is difficult to fully comprehend. Yesterday’s heat alone was enough of an ordeal, and that’s without the additional torment of cinders and smoke.

These people have done us proud, as they do every year. While the battle continues, we offer our humble gratitude.

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