Cynical play for the Right

Nor did Costello bother to mention the belief of a prominent NSW Liberal MP, David Clarke, that one is entitled, in a society where tolerance is supposed to be a by-word for democracy, to vilify another's religious beliefs.

There is no inherent right, nor should there be, for a person's religious or political beliefs to be quarantined from criticism, condemnation or even vilification, Clarke, a member of the secretive Catholic Church-aligned Opus Dei movement, told the NSW Parliament in last September.

If Clarke were a Muslim, one imagines Costello would have used this absurd comment as a prize exhibit in his speech.

And we did not hear Costello condemning Christian groups' intolerance towards gays, or violent attacks on abortion clinics by Christians.

Yet such conduct is as undemocratic and destructive as Muslim violence that is directed at groups or individuals.

What a pity Costello did not use his Sydney Institute speech to bring Australians together.

By singling out Muslim Australians and potential immigrants, he is risking further inflaming tensions already evident throughout places such as Sydney, between European Australians and their countrymen and women from the Middle East. And by attacking the concept of multiculturalism, Costello is undermining one of the great strengths of this nation. That is, that Australia is genuinely tolerant and diverse and enriched by the dialogue between different traditions and cultures.

Costello might have enhanced his leadership credentials within the narrow confines of the Liberal Party with his hard line rhetoric on Thursday, but the broader Australian community ought to be concerned that this would-be Prime Minister is prepared to undermine social cohesion for political gain.