The damaging politics of equivocation

Critiquing “soft Islam” and the history of attempts to enlist it in opposing Islamic terrorism, Henry Ergas criticises Australian government, security and law enforcement authorities for their reluctance to confront increasing Islamist extremism in our nation. Noting that “stringent criteria have to be met for listing a group as a terrorist organisation”, the government “must be satisfied on reasonable grounds that the organisation is directly or indirectly engaged in … fostering the doing of a terrorist act”. Therein lies the rub.

There is more than one way to “foster” something. It can be proactive, but it can also occur through a laissez-faire turning of a blind eye, justified by a virtuous assumption of enlightened understanding and non-demonising tolerance. When “soft Islam” reveals a hard edge, and hardline, hostile, activist Islamist extremism continues to be met with a softly-softly approach from Australian authorities, we might reasonably ask just how culpable are such authorities in enabling the fostering of a disruptive, dangerous and destructive element within our nation.

Deborah Morrison, Malvern East, Vic

Henry Ergas (“Labor turns blind eye to menace of Islamist extremism”, 25/10) has once again shone light on central issues of government policy that puzzle the rest of us. He argues that the “soft” policy of government and security agencies towards Islamism within Western democracies was designed to reconcile moderate Islamists. A fatal conceit. In fact, it has been shown to have virtually endorsed anti-Semitism. What we are seeing on the streets of Australian cities is a failure of political leadership at both state and federal level.

Vicki Sanderson, Cremorne, NSW

Henry Ergas highlights a flawed comparison between anti-Semitism and “Islamophobia”, as if Jews were actively marching and shouting anti-Muslim slogans. Johannes Leak’s excellent cartoon, published after the pro-Hamas protests outside a synagogue in Caulfield last year, captured this sentiment by illustrating Jews “living quietly in their own neighbourhoods, going about their business peacefully” and somehow asking for trouble. This policy of equating anti-Semitism with Islamophobia not only helps the Prime Minister appeal to voters in Muslim-majority areas but also allows offenders to view themselves as victims, thereby justifying Islamist actions. Labor needs to stop balancing political interests and take a firm stand against anti-Semitism.

John Kempler, Rose Bay, NSW

Crisafulli will need all the support he can get

Poor old Queensland. Even with an incredibly unpopular Labor Premier, the LNP under David Crisafulli looks like it might barely drag itself across the line to form government (“Small-target leader has gone awfully close to blowing it”, 25/10). But then again, a bit over a decade ago the people of Queensland elected a strong, determined and reformist premier, Campbell Newman, only to dump him after one term. Newman went in hard to take control of an out-of-control state budget, but in doing so he upset the mob. Queensland wasn’t ready for Newman. Maybe this underpinned the softly-softly approach by Crisafulli. Regardless, he stands to have a rough time from the moment he sits in the big chair. The union movement will be furious and determined to ensure the LNP will have only a very brief reign. Stand by for industrial action that may bring Queensland to its knees. Crisafulli needs to be up to this challenge but I’m not sure he is. We should wish Crisafulli well because he needs all the support he can get.

John George, Terrigal, NSW

Not so neighbourly

Australia should indeed play a leadership role on all pertinent Pacific matters (“We have leadership role on climate change”, 25/10). Tuvalu Prime Minister Feleti Teo claims that planned fossil fuel expansion represents a “death sentence” for his nation. Yet, since May 2022 federal Labor has approved seven new coalmines or expansions. And Australia has recently been revealed to be the second-biggest fossil fuel exporter in the world. Labor’s leadership on global pollution reduction is missing in action.

Amy Hiller, Kew, Vic

Pacific Island leaders such as Tuvalu’s Prime Minister Teo are good at politics. Just ask adjoining wealthy nations for added funds and they shall be given. Teo knows assigning blame and guilt helps get more money. He cleverly attributes the need to man-made, climate change-induced, sea level change and the donor’s failures. Former chief scientist Alan Finkel said Australia’s 1 per cent contribution of CO2 makes no difference. I wonder if Teo and other Pacific Island nations are also putting the screws on China and India, which are responsible for 40 per cent of the world’s emissions? If not, why not?

Lee Smith, Kenmore Qld