A new-look Muslim advisory body is being considered in a bid to help dismantle the stereotypical picture of Islam, despite infighting - fuelled by ideological rivalries and conflicting egos - racking the former government’s board.
And the Rudd Government will also consider reviving the Council for Multicultural Australia - featuring leaders from a cross-section of ethnic backgrounds, including the Jewish and Muslim communities.
The previous government abolished the trouble-plagued Muslim advisory board - set up by John Howard after the London terrorist attacks in 2005 - and the multicultural council after their terms ended in 2006.
But Labor is intent on recasting the two bodies, shifting the focus from the spiritual leaders the Howard government courted - at times with disastrous results - to everyday Muslims.
In the Rudd Government’s first statement on Muslims, Parliamentary Secretary for Multicultural Affairs Laurie Ferguson told The Australian yesterday it was time to tackle the myths surrounding Islam, arguing religious leaders were not representative of the mainstream Muslim community.
“We can’t prescribe how the Islamic community is to organise itself,” Mr Ferguson said. “But we certainly must make sure that the fact there are international tensions and terrorist issues doesn’t kind of stereotype the whole community in Australia.
“A lot of it is about symbolism; it’s about who gets promoted and who gets identified and who gets an option to be seen by Australian society.
“Australia has produced (Muslim) academics, business types, sporting types and it’s often not celebrated enough.”
Mr Ferguson said the idea that all Muslims were religious was a “misconception” he wanted debunked. “The whole spectre of Muslims is women in hijabs and other stereotypical characteristics and I think there is not enough opportunity to see a difference,” he said. “There’s a need to have Muslims involved in parents groups, sporting clubs, political parties ... tuckshops.”
The Muslim reference board was shelved by then parliamentary secretary for immigration Andrew Robb in 2006 after a troubled 12 months. The high-profile group failed to fulfil key tasks such as setting up an imams board to bring spiritual leaders together and had numerous setbacks after one of its senior members, Taj Din al-Hilali, labelled it “still-born”.
Another spiritual leader - Fehmi Naji el-Imam, who has since replaced Sheik Hilali as the mufti of Australia - embarrassed the government by declaring his support for Islamic militants during the Hezbollah-Israel war in 2006.
Mr Ferguson said a broader body would be considered.
“We would always seek to have the broadest representation in any national committees established,” he said.
“There’s a belief that, per se, Muslims are always more religious than other groups.
“But I know a lot of Muslim youth in my electorate that are totally irreligious, or its marginal to their existence and they don’t spend a lot of time thinking about the Koran.”
It is believed the reference board being considered would include six members - three men and three women - plus a chairperson. Academics, sporting stars and community leaders are being sought.
Asked whether sporting identities such as rugby league star Hazem El Masri, from the Canterbury Bulldogs, would be considered, Mr Ferguson said it was too early to say. “But El Masri has been a real role model in Sydney,” he said.
Mr Ferguson stressed the importance of questioning and addressing factors contributing to the radicalisation of young Muslims.
“There’s certainly always a threat by some forces who see people outside of the system angry with life and frustrated with employment that you’ve always got to be aware of that,” he said.
Mr Ferguson said while spiritual Muslim leaders played a role in promoting harmony between the community and wider Australia, he was eager to endorse Australian-born and -educated imams who spoke fluent English.