‘Hurt, fatigue, disappointment’: SA’s Muslims respond as One Nation leaders descend for party launch
SA Muslims fear politicians are fuelling “fear and division” as One Nation’s Barnaby Joyce lands in SA. His leader making controversial comments about Muslims this week.
A new survey of the state’s Muslim community reveals members do not feel supported equally by state and federal governments, as one local leader raises concerns about politicians spreading “fear and division”.
“There is a strong perception that concerns raised by Muslim Australians, particularly around racism, social cohesion, and public rhetoric, are often minimised, delayed, or treated as conditional,” Islamic Society of SA president Ahmed Zreika said.
“There is a sense of hurt, but it is not rooted in anger, it is rooted in fatigue and disappointment.
“People are tired of constantly having to explain themselves, defend their place in society, or respond to public commentary that questions their belonging.”
Zreika said many had lost faith in the state government to support their community, a survey showing 41.8 per cent supported the Greens, 14.3 per cent supporting independents and only 12.2 per cent supported Labor.
There was negligible support for the Liberal Party and One Nation.
Zreika’s comments come as Queenslander and One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce lands in SA on Friday ahead of the party’s state election launch to back Cory Bernardi and other candidates.
One Nation Leader Pauline Hanson was also expected in Kent Town on Saturday night.
This week Hanson told a reporter: “You say, oh, well, there’s good Muslims out there. Well, I’m sorry, how can you tell me there are good Muslims?” Today, news emerged that Federal police had “received reports of a crime” in relation to comments made to the media by Hanson.
But an AFP spokesperson did not say whether they had begun a criminal investigation, only that they would have more to say “at an appropriate time”.
A One Nation spokesperson confirmed the party launch on Saturday would be attended by Queensland-based senator Hanson adding that Joyce was in Kadina today at a local brewing company to support a local candidate.
“The comments made by Pauline Hanson were deeply disappointing and irresponsible, and they are also dangerous,” Zreika said.
“They were not about policy or public safety, but about singling out an entire faith community in a way that fuels fear and division.
“What is most concerning is that this kind of rhetoric normalises suspicion toward ordinary Muslim Australians, families, doctors, workers and students, who are simply trying to live their lives and contribute to this country like everyone else.”
The Islamic Society of South Australia shared a survey of its members ahead of the state election with InDaily, showing among 140 detailed responses, 40 per cent of the community saw racism and discrimination as top issues.
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Another 37.5 per cent listed community safety and social cohesion, and 35.6 per cent religious freedom and inclusion. Like most of the South Australian community, cost of living pressures and housing affordability were the two greatest concerns.
While more than 60 per cent described their representation in public life and politics as being “not well” or “not at all well” and around 27 per cent said “somewhat well”.
“This indicates a systemic representation gap, not isolated dissatisfaction,” the survey found.
A spokesperson for Bernardi said:”One Nation supports the rights of all South Australians who live in accordance with our laws, customs and way of life.”
While the response from Hanson was that the media had “misquoted Senator Hanson, and attributed to her a statement she never made, to generate outrage and attack One Nation as the party grows in popularity”.
“Pauline Hanson and One Nation have always stated a strong and consistent position on the elements of radical Islam that are incompatible with the Australian way of life,” he said.
“Just two months on from the Bondi terrorist massacre, Australians understand the importance of zero tolerance towards radical Islam more than ever.”
Hanson’s comments were condemned by former One Nation MLC Sarah Game, saying they “fuel fear and division rather than protect Australians”.
“The facts matter, including that it was a Syrian man who bravely stopped the Bondi attacker and likely saved lives,” Game, who has since launched the Fair Go For Australians party, said.
“I also acknowledge that the rhetoric used by One Nation, a party I was previously part of, has contributed to a political climate where Muslims are too often portrayed as a problem rather than recognised as equal Australians.
“That is not something I support, and it is one of the reasons I left the party.
“More than 40,000 Muslims live in South Australia. They are not guests or conditional members of our society, they are Australians. Like Australians of all faiths, Muslim families hold strong values, reject violence, and contribute positively to our communities.”
Zreika has previously written to Premier Peter Malinauskas, raising concerns that the Islamic community did not feel supported over his comments related to an Australian author and Palestinian advocate being pulled from the Writers’ Week lineup, also raising concerns about a reported rise in Islamophobic incidents since the Bondi terrorist attack.
The Premier said in his letter that he had referred concerns to SA Police “to ensure appropriate consideration and action is taken in relation to the safety concerns raised”.
In 2023, Zreika quit the state’s peak multicultural board, saying the state government has chosen one community over another around the bloody conflict in Gaza.
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