Rudd’s quest for true blue Muslims - Australia
Richard Kerbaj; 11/3/08
Sporting figures, academics and mainstream Muslims will be sought out by the Rudd Government to help recast the overly religious image of Islamic Australia. A new-look Muslim advisory body is being considered in a bid to help dismantle the stereotypical picture of Islam, despite infighting - fuelled by ideological rivalries and conflicting egos - racking the former government’s board. And the Rudd Government will also consider reviving the Council for Multicultural Australia - featuring leaders from a cross-section of ethnic backgrounds, including the Jewish and Muslim communities. The previous government abolished the trouble-plagued Muslim advisory board - set up by John Howard after the London terrorist attacks in 2005 - and the multicultural council after their terms ended in 2006. But Labor is intent on recasting the two bodies, shifting the focus from the spiritual leaders the Howard government courted - at times with disastrous results - to everyday Muslims.
See: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23353731-2702,00.html