By KATHRYN BERMINGHAM
LA TROBE MP Jason Wood has hit out at the seat’s Labor candidate for taking a “soft” stance on terror after Mr Wood’s anti-terrorism plan was criticised as being “irresponsible.”
Last month Mr Wood told Parliament his plan to launch MYHACK, a program designed to deter young people from turning to violent extremism.
In an interview with the Pakenham-Berwick Gazette, Labor’s Simon Curtis said members of parliament needed to be careful not to become involved in a “scaremonger.”
Mr Wood said that Curtis’ comments were an attempt to create political and community friction.
“For the Labor candidate to accuse me of scaremongering when we’ve had multiple local examples of the risk we face already, I wonder what it would take for him to take the threat of radicalization seriously?
“Being weak on terrorism achieves absolutely nothing, so does he propose to do nothing and just hope for the best?
“Seeing this reaction from the Labor candidate, I have no choice but to assume he would not support proposed changes to citizenship or other counter terrorism measures.”
He also criticized Curtis’ view that the government should be focusing on more prevalent issues such as family violence.
“Domestic violence is something far more prevalent in our community than terrorism. We need to see a better response by government on this.”
Mr Wood said drawing parallels between the two issues was “politically irresponsible.”
“I take the matter of family violence incredibly seriously, and I do not choose to politicise it like others,” Mr Wood said.
– KATHERYN BERMINGHAM
