Dan1, that you find reality confronting is for you to reconcile; however, ~60% of Australians are NOT blind to what to the damage Tony Abbott is causing since they know the local impact it has.
Of course, if I made the sorts of comments Tony Abbott is making about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict I'd be in a lot of legalistic bother - that's why I almost never post anything about that situation [my rights to free speech have been stripped from me while Abbott can shoot his mouth off with impunity]!
As for the extent to which people are alleging Abbott's outbursts are inciting radicalization and counter-reactions to that; here are some articles referring to just that:
"... Counter terrorism expert associate professor Nick O'Brien said Mr Abbott's remarks in recent days were unfortunate and divisive and could be counterproductive.
"... the timing of it is extremely unfortunate coming straight after comments by Donald Trump on Islamic State," he said.
"Muslims in the Western world are now feeling under siege and the danger is the moderates, instead of trying to engage with the authorities, will move away and say this is not working." ..."
http://www.theage.com.au/federal-po...tt-is-a-very-unusual-man-20151210-glk5nl.html
"... Father Rod Bower of Gosford Anglican Church says Mr Abbott's comments are "extraordinary", particularly as they come just days before the 10 year anniversary of the Cronulla Riots, ..."
"... "His statements are really the epitome of 'the new racism'," ..."
"... The new racism is based in culture and religion … and it is certainly not acceptable for any of our elected leaders to be championing the new racism. ..."
http://www.9news.com.au/national/20...atory-remarks-about-islam#j7gEeysZ7Hb0sQfZ.99
"... Islamic Council of Victoria spokesman Kuranda Seyit said the [Abbott] comments had caused offence, particularly the suggestion that Islam was culturally inferior. ..."
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-12-09/labor-accuses-tony-abbott-of-donald-trump-politics/7012892
"... What Muslims need is not "a restoration of cultural self-confidence in those who are supporters of Western cultural civilisation", but rather the space to allow Muslim progressives to speak for themselves and not be associated with the likes of Tony Abbott and other Western cultural supremacists."
http://www.theage.com.au/comment/mu...ll-them-what-islam-needs-20151208-glj0d9.html
