Common denominator Australian

Over the past week we have been reminded that, despite the tyranny of distance, NSW is not immune to global racial and territorial conflicts.

In Sydney a Ukrainian Catholic Church was desecrated with racist vandalism in a cowardly attack. This was clearly designed to intimidate members of the Ukrainian-Australian community by drawing them into an international territorial dispute.

We also saw the revelation that Australian citizens assisting militant groups in Syria have been involved in brutal incursions into Iraq. Reports suggest that between 100 and 200 Australians are currently involved in jihadist groups in Syria and Iraq.

Many of the young Australians drawn into this conflict were born and raised in Sydney. This is not simply a case of a few impressionable souls being led astray. We are witnessing international terrorist groups actively recruiting in our backyard.

It is also disturbing to read reports in the Daily Telegraph about the sale of clothing emblazoned with jihadi messages and calls-to-arms on the streets of Sydney.

Those who abandon Australia to fight for jihadist causes abroad should, wherever possible, be met with a point of no return. Equally people who aid terrorist groups from within Australia should face the full force of the law.

Our first loyalty should always be to our shared Australian identity. That is why we must continue to shine a light into dark corners of our society where racial hatreds and prejudices exist.

Significant work is going on behind the scenes to stop young Australian men and women being indoctrinated and led down this dangerous path.

Muslim leaders have been working closely with the NSW Police and the NSW Community Relations Commission to share information and ensure strong messages are conveyed to the grassroots about the dangerous consequences of travelling to Syria.

I recently attended a meeting with NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione, CRC Chair Vic Alhadeff and several Muslim leaders, where this issue was discussed at length.

At this meeting the work of the Australian National Imams Council and the National Imams Consultative Forum in deterring Australians from travelling to Syria and getting involved in groups like ISIS and ISIL was acknowledged.

All parties also recognised the need to do more to ensure that we continue to live in one of the most culturally diverse and harmonious societies in the world.

Our laws and the language we use about our identity have been integral to maintaining our harmony. When a person becomes an Australian citizen they pledge:

From this time forward I pledge my loyalty to Australia and its people, whose democratic beliefs I share, whose rights and liberties I respect, and whose laws I will uphold and obey.

In simple terms this a contract between each citizen and Australia. It is a promise to obey our laws.

That includes laws which sanction participation in foreign incursions and public acts of racial vilification. It is a standard which must apply equally to those who are born Australians.

We have strong laws in place to ensure that people are not discriminated against on the grounds of race. That is why the NSW Government opposes changes to the Commonwealth Racial Discrimination Act that would dilute these protections.

The language we use about our identity is equally important in uniting us. I recently attended the Sri Lankan Association Annual Ball, for example, where the civic contributions of 'Australians of Sri Lankan heritage' were recognised.

This is a simple yet powerful message – we can celebrate our diverse heritage while also acknowledging our commitment to Australia and values which unite us.

When we embrace our heritage we must, wherever possible, do so as Sri Lankan-Australians or Muslim-Australians or in the case of indigenous people, as our First Australians. The common denominator being that we are all Australians.

Most of us seek to belong. I suspect that those who breach our social norms do not have a sense of belonging as they identify with other places and other norms and values.

If we change our language where Australia is the common denominator then hopefully many of those who seek to engage in foreign racial hatreds or conflicts, will realise precisely that; that they are foreign and they have no place in our Australian home.