Pearls and Irritations

Twelve months after the tragic events of 7 October, the silence from Australia’s faith communities is deafening. Confronted with the devastating war on Gaza and the ongoing suffering of Palestinians, faith leaders had a moral duty to speak out against these injustices. Yet, they have largely remained absent, their influence fading into obscurity.

Once-vital institutions for multiculturalism and interfaith dialogue have had their voices effectively muted. Despite this, we continue to tout our success as a multicultural nation – an increasingly hollow claim in the light of such failures of leadership.

As a Muslim community leader who has spent more than a decade deeply engaged in multifaith and multicultural initiatives with the altruistic aim of fostering social cohesion and strengthening understanding between the Jewish and Muslim communities, I now find myself questioning the very beliefs and values I once held dear.

Over the past 12 months, decades of interfaith and cultural bridge-building have been severely tested due to a collective failure to speak up and demonstrate the leadership they once sought to inspire.

That said, we must also recognise the efforts of many respected individuals across various communities who have spoken up and shared their stories. A recent encouraging example is Louise Adler’s piece, “These are the things I’ve learnt you can’t ask about Israel”.

For years, the Victorian Government, through its various multicultural departments and agencies, has invested in nurturing leadership within faith communities. Yet, in the face of this tragic crisis, we are left questioning whether these efforts toward a “successful multicultural society” and “peaceful co-existence” were ever anything more than hollow rhetoric and empty policies on paper.

It is particularly striking that the Multicultural Framework Review: Towards Fairness – A Multicultural Australia for All, launched in August 2023 during this period of crisis. While the Review is an important step toward fostering a more inclusive and harmonious society, it falls short by not addressing the real-world impact of global conflicts, particularly the Israeli-Palestinian issue.

This conflict deeply affects Australia’s Muslim, Arab, and Jewish communities, shaping their perspectives on social justice and identity. The review overlooks how these tensions influence intercommunal relations, missing a crucial opportunity to enhance social harmony.

The review had the potential to be a pivotal platform for promoting inter-faith and inter-cultural dialogue, particularly among communities affected by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. By sidestepping this issue, it misses a significant opportunity to guide Australia toward meaningful reconciliation – both within its diverse population and in its broader commitment to global justice and human rights. Engaging with these tensions could have fostered understanding and cooperation, strengthened social cohesion, and positioned Australia as a leader in advocating for peace on the international stage.

The government’s failure to engage with real-world geopolitical issues represents a missed opportunity for conflict resolution. By avoiding this critical dialogue, it risks alienating communities that look to their leaders for guidance on matters of justice and human rights. This neglect not only erodes trust, but also weakens the credibility of the multicultural leadership, diminishing its ability to build bridges between communities with differing perspectives on the conflict.

For Australia to realise its vision of a cohesive and inclusive society, it must confront these difficult conversations head-on, acknowledging the complexities of global issues that directly affect its multicultural fabric. Embracing this responsibility is essential for fostering understanding and collaboration, reinforcing the very foundations of social harmony we claim to uphold.

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is pivotal to Australia’s multicultural future and attempts to sidestep this issue have led to a significant erosion of trust and confidence in our multicultural institutions and inter-faith leadership. To be a truly effective multicultural society — one that sets an example for the world — our policies must reflect the realities of our diverse population and address the complex global issues that resonate deeply within local communities.

Our leadership has been put to the test over the past 12 months, offering many valuable lessons. After many years of building social cohesion, we cannot allow it to fall apart. How we respond to this crisis will reveal our true resilience, our commitment to shared values, and the real “success story” of our multicultural and multifaith society.

A path forward begins with more people sharing their stories, as Louise Adler so courageously illustrated. It’s through personal narratives that we foster understanding and rebuild the connections essential for our community’s harmony and well-being. We must rekindle vital conversations. Open dialogue is the lifeblood of a cohesive society.

If we are to rebuild trust and foster meaningful dialogue among the leadership circles that matter, we must seize the lessons of the past year and act with conviction. Our future social cohesion depends on our commitment to not just co-existence, but also genuine understanding and moral leadership. Without this, our multicultural aspirations will be reduced to mere rhetoric, lacking the substance needed to truly bridge our diverse communities.

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