Australia Responds to Islamophobia Report, Rejects Law Changes

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese released the Australian government’s response to a report on Islamophobia ten months after its initial release, committing to new educational measures and expanded police community liaison teams. The government rejected calls to overhaul counter-terror laws, defending its reliance on national security agencies. Special envoy Aftab Malik expressed his intention to continue advocating for recommendations not fully adopted.

The response includes a review of the national education curriculum to strengthen tolerance and new grant programs to support multiculturalism and mental health, particularly for Muslim women. While welcoming the government’s acknowledgement of Islamophobia as a growing problem, groups like the Alliance of Australian Muslims and the Australian National Imams Council urged swift implementation of the commitments with clear accountability.

Leaders within the Muslim community noted a rise in Islamophobic incidents, including students avoiding public transport due to harassment. They expressed hope that the educational reforms will foster long-term societal change, and called for further steps like increased legal protections and a deeper review of counter-terrorism definitions.