Government unveils Islamophobia response as PM hits back at Hanson’s Islam comments

The Albanese government has launched its national response to Islamophobia, warning that anti-Muslim hatred is rising, as the Prime Minister slammed Pauline Hanson over her latest comments about Islam.

Multicultural Affairs Minister Anne Aly warned Islamophobia had reached an alarming point.

“It is dangerously close to being normalised,” she said.

The plan outlines the federal government’s response to recommendations made by Special Envoy to Combat Islamophobia Aftab Malik, with a focus on education, protection and support, social cohesion, and accountability.

The national response comes after months of consultation and is intended to guide the government’s approach to tackling anti-Muslim hate across Australia.

Malik welcomed the release of the plan but made clear it was only the beginning.

“This has been a long wait … but this is just the start of the journey,” he said.

The government’s announcement comes as renewed attention falls on Hanson following footage, filmed in April and released publicly yesterday, in which she described Islam as “an ideology”.

“A lot of it’s based on terrorism,” Senator Hanson claimed in the video.

Asked about the remarks, Albanese accused the One Nation leader of dividing Australians, stating that she has been “undermining social cohesion for 30 years”.

The scrutiny comes as Hanson also defended her recent overseas holiday, after criticism over her trip to Italy and London with mining billionaire Gina Rinehart.

Posting a video to her one million Facebook followers while in London, Hanson dismissed questions about the cost of the trip.

“Haven’t I heard, when the cat’s away, the mice will play,” she said, later insisting taxpayers had not funded her travel.

Read more

‘I can’t believe you’: Hanson hits back after Opposition leader calls out Italian fashion show trip

Fellow One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce speculated Rinehart may have contributed to the costs, saying, “I would say it’d be a fair bet that Gina’s supported it somehow, I’m just being straight with you.”

Earlier, Hanson declined to answer repeated questions from an ABC reporter asking if she had personally paid for the Italian holiday before walking into a closed-door conservative conference.

The event was attended by Rinehart, who was seen wearing a pink cowgirl hat, while British right-wing politician Nigel Farage appeared as a guest speaker.

In a separate interview with The Sydney Morning Herald, the Reform UK party leader praised Hanson as “remarkable” but stopped short of lauding her decision to appear on convicted criminal and anti-Islam activist Tommy Robinson’s podcast.

Malik used the government’s announcement to condemn political attacks targeting Australia’s Muslim community.

“While One Nation continues to wage a war against one million Australian Muslims … we will wage peace upon peace,” he said.

Hanson has signalled she will soon return to Australia with new policy announcements, declaring her heart is with her country.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke also weighed into the debate, warning that “those who hate Australia shouldn’t pretend they love Australia.”