Opposition questions minister on funding ties

The Victorian opposition has intensified pressure on Multicultural Affairs Minister Ingrid Stitt over government funding to an Islamic organisation led by a preacher described as antisemitic.

At parliamentary estimates hearings, Liberal MP Jade Benham questioned Stitt about financial support for MyCentre, an organisation run by Sheikh Abu Hamza, also known as Samir Mohtadi.

“Mr Mohtadi is on the record of saying some very ugly things that I’m not going to repeat here regarding the Jewish Australian community,” Benham told the committee. “He’s also on the record promoting things that are completely unacceptable regarding the treatment of women.”

Benham also referenced Sheikh Abu Hamza’s reported comments about domestic violence, stating, “He said that rape and beating in the household was okay.”

Shadow Minister for Multicultural Affairs Evan Mulholland condemned the government’s approach. “To claim to stand against antisemitism and champion social cohesion while simultaneously funnelling taxpayer dollars to organisations associated with such hateful rhetoric is a profound contradiction from the Allan Labor government.