Multifaith Advisory Action Group Gold Coast’s Ree Ali says both the group and the city have come a long way

As international conflicts flare up in Australian flashpoints, there’s a reason why the Gold Coast is a place of relative peace. Read how

“Go the rednecks!” It was one of the ugliest moments in recent Gold Coast history. Exactly 10 years ago, as the city council voted against a development application to build a new mosque in an industrial area of Currumbin, members of an anti-Islam group cheered aggressively.

While councillors rejected the mosque proposal based on social impact and amenity, many had already received death threats and the site itself was attacked with the application receiving a record number of objections, often driven by Islamophobic sentiment.

It was not the first time this city experienced religious intolerance, and it would not be the last.

Now, in 2024, with Israel, Palestine, Lebanon and Iran sinking deeper into widespread conflict in the Middle East, shockwaves are being felt in our own country as well, with flashpoints and protests in our capital cities.

But here on the Gold Coast, our city is a place of relative peace. Ironically, it could well be thanks to that religious discrimination from a decade ago. During that precarious time, our city’s faith leaders refused to accept that reality, and Uniting Church Reverend Bryan Gilmour OAM decided to start a group that would bring all religions of the Coast together.

And so the Multifaith Advisory Action Group Gold Coast was born.

Despite sounding like the start of a joke – a priest, a Buddhist and a Muslim go to the beach – their business of encouraging religious harmony was incredibly serious. Now in almost its tenth year, MAAG is headed by Ree Ali, elected to the position after Rev Gilmour’s retirement, who embodies the group’s ideals as a woman of Muslim faith whose own children attended a Christian school. Mrs Ali said both the group and the city have come
a long way since the dark days of 2014.

Multifaith Advisory Action Group Gold Coast's Ree Ali

“We have seen so much change for the better in this city,” said Mrs Ali, whose day job sees her working in community development for a non-profit.

“There are still testing situations for some of us at different times, but there is so much more understanding these days … and a willingness to learn as well.

“Even the fact that there are now three mosques, as well as synagogues and temples on the Gold Coast shows we’ve made progress, although it wasn’t always smooth, but I think MAAG has made real change in trying to unite diverse groups, in being inclusive and being willing to listen without judgement.

“We made a decision right at the beginning of MAAG to never weigh in on politics.

“That doesn’t mean we don’t acknowledge what is happening in the world, the pain and suffering and hardship, but our focus is on bringing peace and compassion to the Gold Coast.

“For all of us, no matter our faith and no matter our background, this is our home.”

From Hindus to Hare Krishnas, Buddhists to Bahai, Latter Day Saints to Lutherans, Jews, Catholics, Muslims and more, Mrs Ali said MAAG was constantly and quietly working behind the scenes of the city to bring people together.

She said while many locals might not know of its work, the group had been called on by Queensland police to help unite residents.

“When there are wider events happening in the world, police do call us to see what the pulse is on the street, to see how these larger things are impacting local people here,” she said.

“You can get clashes, we’ve never had it in our own group but you do see in other cities that these bigger events can have ripples locally.

“We’re like our own little United Nations here, but on a faith basis – we’re also part of the United Religions Initiative and have the support of the Charter for Compassion.

“The police have always been incredibly supportive for any concerns we have had.

“They have their own chaplain and another officer who comes along to show their support and they also run their own multi-faith dinner every year, it’s a true community.”

Gold Coast aerial views captured by veteran photographer Stephen Brookes. Picture: Stephen Brookes

Mrs Ali said MAAG also worked with the council, and had contributed to a report into the economic value of faith in the city.

Commissioned by the Gold Coast City Council and conducted by third-party group NAYBA, the study showed that the social impact of outreach work by religious groups in the city was at least $43 million.

The report, which surveyed 52 per cent of the city’s faith-based groups in the year covering July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022, found that religious groups provided 206 community service activities which addressed 13 of the greatest social issues, and that nearly 356,000 people had performed service in that year, the equivalent to 57 per cent of the Gold Coast population.

“We’ve been around for almost ten years but I think we’ve only just started to get noticed and have some traction, but we were happy to take it slowly,” she said.

“We wanted MAAG to grow organically, religion and faith are such personal things and we didn’t want to force our way into any conversations. At the same time, we’re happy to talk to anyone who is interested.

“We work with many different groups and we’re very casual in our meetings, people can attend whenever they want, there’s no obligation, just come see what we’re about and learn about your neighbour.

Muslim model Janet Zeba Nassiry on the Gold Coast. Photo Nigel Hallett

“The friendships we have all developed here are truly the best part, we all get along so well and there are such interesting discussions with real people.”

While Mrs Ali said there was still more to do over the course of the next decade, she was optimistic with the city’s progress, especially by comparison to world and even Australian flashpoints.

“The Gold Coast has changed so much, I think people are much more accepting now,” she said.

“That’s not to say there’s no intolerance, but I firmly believe there are way more good people than there are bad.”

Originally published as Multifaith Advisory Action Group Gold Coast’s Ree Ali says both the group and the city have come a long way