Security agencies are spending a “substantial” amount of time concerned about the radicalisation of Australians over the Israel-Palestine conflict, the Prime Minister has said.
Responding to revelations in The Nightly that the 16-year-old radicalised teenager shot dead by WA Police after a stabbing attack raised the Gaza conflict in his final call to emergency services, Anthony Albanese said it was another sign of the dangers of exposing children to harmful content.
The triple-0 phone call — made in the moments before the teenager confronted three police officers with a large knife — is understood to have included references to the Australian Government’s support for Israel in the Gaza war.
“I understand that, particularly people who have relatives, either in Israel, or in Gaza, or the West Bank will have strong views, and it will be it is a difficult time but overwhelmingly Australians and our multicultural society do not want disputes brought here to Australia,” Mr Albanese said
“Parents on the side of netball courts and football ovals over all weekends, like last weekend, would all have a common theme, which is they talked about how do we get our kids off devices (and) how do we get people engaged in healthy activities.
“Because incidents like this where it would appear — well I won’t comment specifically, because of the matters which are there — but we do know that radicalisation can be a major source of conflict.
“The use of algorithms can drive people towards more and more extreme view and that’s something that we need to have a discussion on.
“The authorities, including our security agencies, spend substantial time being concerned about this and some focus of their work.
“It was also a theme … when we had the National Cabinet meeting about domestic violence, promotion of misogyny, the portrayal of violent assaults, pornographic images — it can really undermine the harmony of what should be respectful relationships.”
WA Premier Roger Cook, speaking alongside the Prime Minister in Perth, said he understood people’s “anxieties and awareness” over global conflicts, when asked about the contents of the call.
“The emergence of a range of geopolitical issues around the globe has heightened people’s sense of anxiety and makes us more sensitive to the issues that have been placed on our TV screens, in our social media on a daily basis,” Mr Cook said.
“I can understand that raises people’s anxieties and awareness.
“That’s why we work so closely with the multi-faith community and the multicultural community to reassure them that the Western Australian Government can do everything that we can to continue to make sure that Western Australia remains one of the safest places.”