“One of the things we value about a democracy is the ability for us to express our opinion … there is always room for opinion in the public square[however] there is no room for hate speech,no room to create that division,” he said.
“This debate is important,I think that speaks as much to parliamentarians as it does in the broader public and people shouldn’t feel like if they express their views in some way,shape or form … if it’s been peaceful and if it conforms to what we think is acceptable in a democratic country,they shouldn’t feel like their jobs are on the line.”
Speaking at a press conference in Tasmania on Wednesday afternoon,several hours after Husic made his remarks in Canberra,Prime Minister Anthony Albanese declined to criticise the ABC’s handling of the matter.
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“Those are matters for the ABC,and the ABC is an independent body from government,” Albanese said.
“It of course,is publicly owned,but I don’t want to create another issue which is for sitting parliamentarians to try to direct or even be seen to be trying to direct the ABC.”
Husic – who is one of only two Muslims in the federal ministry – has previously broken ranks from the Albanese government’s position on the Israel-Palestine conflict,being the first frontbench minister tocall for a ceasefire.