Speaking to SBS, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has denied Immigration Minister Peter Dutton recently linked Lebanese migration to terrorist activity.
In an interview with SBS, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said Immigration Minister Peter Dutton was “misrepresented, recklessly so” over his comments that appeared to link Lebanese migration in the 1970s with terrorist activity today.
During question time on November 21, Mr Dutton said: “The advice I have is that out of the last 33 people who have been charged with terrorist-related offences in this country, 22 of those people are from second and third generation Lebanese-Muslim background.”
When questioned whether Mr Dutton referring to migration in the 1970s as a mistake, Mr Turnbull spoke about multiculturalism.
“The real issue is what are we doing today, and what are we doing today is ensuring that we maintain the most successful multicultural society in the world,” he said.
“And we do that by having a generous immigration program, but one that is very well managed and the humanitarian component of it, the refugee program, again is very well managed.”
On the parliamentary year
The prime minister described the wrapping up of the parliamentary sitting year as “weeks of great achievement”, brushing off the earlier parliamentary stalemate over the backpacker tax and two days of protests at parliament house over asylum seeker policy.
“We’ve secured the passage of the two bills that were the triggers for the double dissolution,” he said.
“Today, as you’ve seen, we’ve secured agreement to ensure that the backpacker tax is established at 15 per cent at the headline rate and we’ve done that with the support of a number of the cross-benchers and the Greens.”
On US relations
Mr Turnbull said that US president elect Donald Trump “absolutely affirmed” the US alliance with Australia and the greater Asia-Pacific region when they spoke shortly after the US election result was known.
He reiterated that the US “has a vital vested interest in the part of this world”.
“Presidents and indeed prime ministers come and go, but the great national interest of great powers are enduring,” he said. https://www.facebook.com/SBSWorldNewsAustralia/videos/1370867512932894/
