A Liberal frontbencher says he \u201cstrongly disagrees\u201d with former prime minister Tony Abbott\u2019s claim that last year\u2019s Bondi Beach terror attack shows multiculturalism has \u201cfailed\u201d in Australia.<\/p>\n
In a speech posted on social media this week, the now-Liberal Party president said Australia had welcomed immigrants who did not share the values stated in the citizenship oath.<\/p>\n
He said parts of Islam were incompatible with liberal democracies, pointing to the Bondi gunmen who \u201cthought so little of our traditional commitment to freedom of religion\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cPlainly, multiculturalism has failed and diversity is not our strength when two individuals have so rejected our national ideals,\u201d Mr Abbott said.<\/p>\n
Liberal senator Andrew Bragg said on Sunday the comments contradicted the party\u2019s history.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t agree with that,\u201d he told the ABC, arguing that \u201cliberalism has actually created multiculturalism because it creates a framework for people to have freedom of religion, and freedom of thought, and freedom of conscience\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd the Liberal Party built modern Australia \u2013 if you look at the Menzies government opening up after the war, the Holt government abolishing parts of the White Australia policy, and then of course Malcolm Fraser\u2019s actions to promote multiculturalism and introduce things like the SBS.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo we have a very proud record to stand on, and I think it\u2019s very important that we\u2019re clear about that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Abbott\u2019s role as Liberal Party president is administrative but he still steers federal campaign messaging. <\/p>\n
Senator Bragg said it was \u201cvery important that as leaders in the parliamentary party, that we\u2019re clear about what multiculturalism is, and how it fits into a liberal framework, and how it fits into modern Australia\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd if people have concerns about certain things in Australia, whether that be around terrorism, forced marriages, other things like that, those are things which are illegal under Australian laws, and those things are not multiculturalism,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe great thing about multiculturalism is that you can subscribe to the Australian nation, its laws, and its culture, but you can engage in cultural practices as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
Asked if Mr Abbott should \u201cstop saying these things\u201d, Senator Bragg said he was not the former leader\u2019s \u201cspokesperson\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s a former prime minister. He\u2019s entitled to his views. And I strongly disagree with them,\u201d Senator Bragg said.<\/p>\n