Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has criticised One Nation leader Pauline Hanson’s comments about the Muslim community and Lakemba in Sydney’s west, saying her remarks could incite violence.
“Don’t pretend to care about national security and then make it harder for our agencies and more likely that violence will occur,” he said.
Hanson last week took aim at Lakemba — home to a large Muslim community — claiming some people felt they couldn’t go there.
She separately told Sky News there were “no good Muslims” — a claim she later partially walked back.
The Muslim community in the area has been on high alert after a threat letter was sent to Lakemba Mosque, the third it has received in a month.
Speaking on ABC’s Insiders, Burke, who is the federal representative for Lakemba, said he believed Hanson was frustrated because Lakemba locals “didn’t give her what she wanted” the last time she visited.
“She turned up with a TV crew from one of the commercial stations, expecting to be greeted with anger from people. They showed her hospitality, they were glad she was there, some of the women gave her a hug,” he said.
“This is a generous community, there’s a whole lot of hospitality there”.
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