Andrew Giles, the minister for Multicultural Affairs, held one of his regular ethnic media conferences and emphasised that Australia’s multiculturalism policies are “a source of national strength.”

“People of different languages and faiths come to Australia and know it is a place where everyone belongs and can live together in peace and harmony,” the minister said.

Considering the current conflict between Hamas and Israel, Minister Giles said that “everyone in Australia should feel safe” adding that they are “free to express who they are, including their faith and their heritage.”

“There is no place in Australia for hate and prejudice, and at times like these, it is important that we draw on our strengths as a multicultural nation,” Giles added.

He went on to say that social cohesion is imperative, and that “we should not let those who seek to divide us, through dangerous and divisive rhetoric succeed, do us harm.”

The minister said his government was “working hard” to strengthen social cohesion “by working closely with multifaith and multicultural groups.”

“We are listening with intent and listening to what they need. I have been in close contact with community leaders and am listening – the resounding message is they want safety, security, and cohesion,” Giles said.

The federal government, he said, had convened a meeting with “all state and territory multicultural affairs ministers to brief them on the current situation.”

Neos Kosmos said it recognised that community emotions are running high; however, some in the pro-Palestinian camp are drawing an equivalence between Hamas terrorism and Israel’s actions and if he would respond.

“The attacks on Israel by Hamas are abhorrent and utterly unacceptable; they are acts of terror, let me unambiguously clear on that, as the PM has been,” Giles said.

He added that his principal concern is “building a stronger sense of social cohesion”.

“Hamas is not synonymous with Palestinians; indeed, the actions of Hamas are antithetical to the aspirations of the Palestinian people,” Giles said.

He also said that “all requirements of international law need to be applied” and that “no one wants to see an innocent person die, be that person Israeli or Palestinian.”

Neos Kosmos pointed out that the conflict has often been presented as a Jewish and Muslim one when, in fact, not all Israelis are Jewish, and not all Palestinians are Muslim.

The minister said that point has been made forcefully” to him, adding that “we must recognise that when we talk about affected communities, we must talk of Israelis of Australian background, then more broadly Jewish Australians, and Palestinian Australians, Muslim Australians, and Arab Australians.”

The minister went on to talk about the protection visa system and said that the Nixon Review, which was established to assist the work by Home Affairs to address migrant worker exploitation, had proven that the leader of the Opposition, Peter Dutton, as the minister for immigration when the LNP was in government was “weak or incompetent.”

“Mr Dutton was keen on marketing himself as a tough decision maker on borders, yet his six years in charge of the immigration portfolio proved that he is either weak or incompetent, or perhaps both.

Mr Dutton wrecked Australia’s system of immigration and border security,” Giles said.

He said that the Nixon Review found “major delays in processing and delaying protection visa applications”, which came to “a great cost to genuine refugees in need of protection.”

“That was Dutton’s legacy, and it is up to us to clean up his mess as many genuine asylum seekers were left unprotected and rife for exploitation.”

“We are rebuilding our migration system, with integrity and in interest to all Australians, and we announced a $160m package last week that will give a fair go to genuine asylum seekers and stop those unscrupulous people aiming to exploit our system,” Giles said.

Neos Kosmos also talked about where the working visa for Greeks under 30 wishing to come to Australia is and if he could report on any progress.

Giles said that while he was not personally involved with the issue, he would take it on board and report to the masthead next time. The minister said that he believed the issue “is tied up with the current free-trade negotiations” between the EU and Australia, which the Minister for Trade Don Farrell is dealing with.