Julie Bishop: ‘Drown out the extremists’

JULIE Bishop says more needs to be done to defeat Islamic State as she held meetings in Washington DC with coalition partners.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson talks with Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop. Picture: AP

FOREIGN Affairs Minister Julie Bishop has called for more moderate Muslims to “drown out the extremists” as she joined 67 of her peers in Washington to discuss how to fight Islamic State.

Ms Bishop told her coalition partners that “we are not doing enough to counter the perverse ideas and narrative” of ISIS.

She said that the challenge was to ensure moderate voices were not pushed to the fringes while emphasising the importance of job creation in the fight against terrorism.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop shows the relationship between Australia and the US is still OK as she shakes hands with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson (2nd L). Picture: AFP

“Creating a stable governance environment and competitive economies is critical to attracting to the private sector investment necessary for driving economic prosperity and job opportunities.”

Ms Bishop told parliament on Monday the coalition was at a “pivotal point”.

Stopping the flow of foreign fighter terrorists in and out of Syria and Iraq and terrorism financing were major focuses.

She also said that Australia is intensifying co-operation with its Southeast Asian partners to tackle returning foreign fighters and ISIS inspired attacks in the region.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson (L) speaks with Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop (2nd L). Picture: AFP

“We have been helping Southeast Asian nations disrupt terrorist attacks, contest radicalisation and recruitment, and counter the efforts of ISIS to raise and transfer terrorist funds,” she said.

Ms Bishop met her counterparts from Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines last week.

Australia has 780 defence personnel in Iraq and Syria, carrying out air strikes, special operations, and training Iraqi soldiers and police in the fight against ISIS.

Originally published as Julie Bishop: ‘Drown out the extremists’