Security upgrades for mosques, churches, synagogues and religious schools in wake of Christchurch terror attack

Scott Morrison says he wants to unite the nation, not divide it in the wake of the Christchurch terror attacks.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and wife Jenny Morrison during an Interfaith gathering for victims of the Christchurch terror attack at St Mary's Cathedral in Sydney on Sunday. Picture: Joel Carrett/AAP

Scott Morrison has denounced “mindless tribalism” as a dangerous force in Australian society, declaring in the wake of last week’s Christchurch terror attack that he wants to unite the nation, not divide it.

The Prime Minister, who today announced $55 million for security upgrades for religious schools and places of worship, said Australia needed to stand up to the “militant and lazy” group in society that sought to set one group of Australians against another.

“I want to remove the demarcation lines between Australians,” he told the Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce in Melbourne today.

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In his strongest statement as Prime Minister on inclusiveness in society, Mr Morrison said he saw every Australian as an individual, not as part of a tribal group “be traded off against another”.

“I believe, not in a tribalism that divides, but in an ‘us; that unites,” he said.

“So let me affirm today what ‘us’ means: Indigenous Australians are us. Immigrant Australians from all nationalities and backgrounds, including Chinese, Lebanese, Greek, Indian, Turkish, Vietnamese, just to name a few, are us. Muslim Australians are us. Christian Australians are us. Jewish Australians are us. Hindu Australians are us. Atheist Australians are us.

“LGBTIQ Australians are us. Whoever you vote for - us. Older Australians are us. Young Australians are us. Female Australians are us. Male Australians are us. Regional Australians are us.

“From the bottom of Tasmania to the tip of Cape York, from Byron to Broome, all 25 million Australians are us.”

The $55m commitment will be delivered in a boost to the government’s Safer Communities fund, which has provided $70 million since 2016 in local community safety grants for schools, pre-schools, community organisations and local councils.

The grants from $50,000 to $1.5 million will provide funds for security upgrade including as CCTV cameras, lighting, fencing, bollards, alarms, security systems and public address systems.

Mr Morrison also signalled he was open to legal changes at home in the aftermath of the Christchurch terror attack, committed by right wing extremist Australian man Brenton Tarrant, who was not known to authorities.

“Rightly, this is a time for grief and it is a time for reflection. In time, we will have a better idea of how this all happened,” he said.

“How did this terrorist stay in the shadows, hiding among us in plain sight?

“Where and how did his vile radicalisation take place? During the last three years the terrorist spent just 45 days in Australia, travelling extensively overseas.

“What laws need to change, what additional actions and precautions need to be taken?

“Answers to those questions will come with time, and must.”

Mr Morrison attacked the “despicable appropriation” of concerns about immigration and border protection as justification for terrorist atrocities, saying Australia needed to be able to engage in a national discussion about population without the issue being “hijacked”.

“Managing our population growth is a practical policy challenge that needs answers. Answers I will continue to outline as we approach the next election, from our congestion busting road and rail investments to ensuring we frame our migration program to meet the needs of our economy, the capacity of our cities and the opportunities and needs in our regions,” he said.