Scott Morrison Urged to End ‘Lunacy’ and Push UK and US for Julian Assange’s Release

THE GUARDIAN: Independent MP Andrew Wilkie says UK a ‘lackey’ of US and journalism is not a crime

The Australian prime minister, Scott Morrison, has been urged to advocate for the release of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. Photograph: Bianca de Marchi/AAP
Australian parliamentarians have demanded the prime minister, Scott Morrison, intervene in the case of Julian Assange, an Australian citizen, after the United States won a crucial appeal in its fight to extradite the WikiLeaks founder on espionage charges.

“The prime minister must get Assange home,” the Australian Greens leader, Adam Bandt, told Guardian Australia on Saturday.

“An Australian citizen is being prosecuted for publishing details of war crimes, yet our government sits on its hands and does nothing.”

The independent MP Andrew Wilkie called on Morrison to “end this lunacy” and demand the US and UK release Assange. » | Lane Sainty and AAP | Saturday, December 11, 2021

Did the Anti-Muslim Rhetoric among Australian Politicians Fuel the New Zealand Terror Attacks?

Did the anti-Muslim rhetoric among Australian politicians spur on terrorist Brenton Tarrant, the Australian national who killed at least 50 people in the Christchurch terror attacks?

A Current Affairs - Pauline Hanson Is Back and She's Making Some Noise

Geert Wilders Backs New Anti-Islam Party, the Australian Liberty Alliance

THE GUARDIAN: The far-right politician sends pre-recorded message to a conference being held in Melbourne on Friday that will feature two speakers barred entry into Britain


Far-right Dutch politician Geert Wilders will welcome a new anti-Islam political party, the Australian Liberty Alliance, in a pre-recorded message to a conference on “Islam and liberty” starting in Melbourne on Friday.

The conference, organised by the “Islam-critical” Q Society, will start on Friday morning at a secret location, and will feature two speakers who were last year barred entry into Britain.

“It’s a bringing together of many people who are concerned about the march of Islam into many western democracies, and how it changes the laws and values of western democracies,” Q Society’s spokesman, Andrew Horwood, said.

“You get segregation when you get Muslims coming in, because their core belief is that Muslims are better people than non-Muslims,” he said. “We’re keen to have integrated societies, but we think it’s important to have integration, not segregation.”

The Q Society sparked protests last year when it sponsored a speaking tour by Wilders. The firebrand MP warned audiences that Islam was “a force of darkness” that had made European cities such as Rotterdam and Paris look like “suburbs of Cairo”. The tour was hampered by 30 venue cancellations and a refusal by some banks to provide financial services. Horwood said this year’s event has not seen any cancellations or boycotts so far. » | Michael Safi | Thursday, March 06, 2014

PERTH NOW: ‘No place’ for Dutch extremist Geert Wilders in Australian politics : THERE’S one thing Warren Truss and Bill Shorten agree on: There is no place in Australian politics for extremism. » | AAP | Wednesday, March 05, 2014

THE AUSTRALIAN: Anti-Islam party to contest next election: AN anti-Islam party based on the hardline views of Dutch politician Geert Wilders plans to field candidates at the next federal election, raising fears among moderate Muslims of a rise in extremism. » | Chip Le Grand | Wednesday, March 05, 2014

Kevin Rudd Quits Politics

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Two-time Australian prime minister and self-styled geek Kevin Rudd quits politics, saying "enough is enough"


Kevin Rudd, who served twice as prime minister of Australia, has made an emotional departure from politics after finally conceding that "enough is enough".

Following his decision to step down as Labor leader on election night in September, Mr Rudd said in parliament that he will quit as an MP at the end of this week.

"The decision that I have made has not been taken lightly," he said, pausing to fight back tears.

"This has been the product of much soul-searching for us as a family over the last few months."

Mr Rudd, 56, was one of the country's most popular ever prime ministers but was forced to endure the shame of being deposed by his colleagues before completing a first term. » | Jonathan Pearlman, Sydney | Wednesday, November 13, 2013

'I Don’t Oppose Islam as a Country' - Australian Politician Withdraws from Election after TV Immigration Gaffe Interview Goes Viral

Stephanie Banister attacked the way the interview was edited and apologised to her friends and family for any embarrassment

Read the Independent article here | Rob Williams | Saturday, August 10, 2013

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Australien: Politikerin hält Islam für ein Land: Eine Politikerin einer ausländerfeindlichen australischen Partei büßte wegen ihres Unwissens ihre Karriere ein. In einem TV-Interview machte Stephanie Banister deutlich, dass sie den Islam für ein Land hält. Nun zog sie ihre Bewerbung für die Parlamentswahl zurück. » | ler/AFP | Samstag, 10. August 2013

LE POINT: La "Sarah Palin australienne", plus forte que l'originale ? : Une candidate nationaliste s'est ridiculisée en interview en parlant de l'Islam "en tant que pays" et des Juifs qui "suivent Jésus-Christ". » | Le Point.fr | vendredi 09 août 2013

Australian Muslim Frontbencher Suffers Online Abuse After Koran Oath

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Australia’s first Muslim frontbencher, Ed Husic, has been subjected to “extreme” abuse after he chose to swore his oath of office on the Koran.

Mr Husic, a parliamentary secretary, suffered torrents of anti-Islamic attacks on social media but said he “will not jump because of harsh words in dark corners”. On his Facebook page, a series of congratulatory messages was rebuked by critics who said they were “disappointed” and feared he had abandoned the constitution in favour of Sharia law.

“Shame, Shame, Shame," wrote Ross Peace. "I am so disappointed in this government that they don't have the spine to stand up for the Australian way of life."

Another user, Steve Kerr, wrote: “You are the shame of our great nation. Australian politics has gone to the dogs, and committing the treasonous act of swearing in on the quran, you are the biggest mutt in the yard!”

Mr Husic, 43, the child of Bosnian Muslim migrants, said it was “right” for people to express their concerns but defended his decision to use the Koran for his oath. » | Jonathan Pearlman, Sydney | Tuesday, June 02, 2013

Australian PM Loses Party Leadership Vote
Intra-party rival Kevin Rudd unseats Julia Gillard as Labor Party leader in snap ballot.

Australia: First Muslim Woman to Enter Parliament

SBS.COM.AU: The first Muslim woman to be appointed to any parliament in Australia says her religion won’t be a major influence on her politics.

The first Muslim woman to be appointed to any parliament in Australia says her religion won’t be a major influence on her politics.

Mehreen Faruqi will take over from Greens MP Cate Faehrmann in the New South Wales upper house later this year.

The environmental engineer and university lecturer told SBS religion should play “no part” in politics, and rejected earlier claims from an Islamic Friendship Association spokesman that she could have difficulties reconciling issues such as gay marriage with Islamic teachings.

“We live in a democracy and [have] a secular system of government. I see no role that religion plays in government, and nor should it,” she said. » | Source: Rhiannon Elston, SBS | Tuesday, April 09, 2013

Australia Gets First Muslim Woman MP
ON ISLAM: SYDNEY – Making history in the multicultural country, a Pakistani-origin Muslim has been appointed as the first Muslim woman in the Australian parliament, breaking new grounds for politics in Australia.

"We do need a spectrum of diverse politicians in Australian parliaments who can represent our communities,” Mehreen Faruqi told 9MSN News on Sunday, April 7.

"It shows the world that we really value multiculturalism.” » | OnIslam & News Agencies | Sunday, April 07, 2013