Islamic leaders have criticized Scott Morrison for his “reckless” proposal to increase governmental oversight on Islamic religious roles in Australia.

These comments from the former prime minister were made during an antisemitism conference in Israel and also featured in an opinion article for The Australian newspaper.

“We need nationally consistent, self-regulated standards: accredited recognition for imams, a national registry for publicly active religious roles, defined training and conduct guidelines, and a system of enforceable disciplinary measures,” Morrison stated in his Wednesday newspaper piece.

During his speech, he also advocated for translating sermons into English and taking measures against connections to overseas Islamist organizations.

Addressing the conference, Morrison acknowledged that some might see his remarks as “hostile to Australia’s Islamic community,” but he insisted that his proposed reforms were intended to “protect the community from potential threats.”

“After December 14, all options to combat antisemitism must be on the table without fear or favour. This includes how Islam is practised and governed in Australia,” he said, referring to the date of the Bondi terror attack last year.

Liberal senator Andrew Bragg backed Morrison’s plan and said Australian Muslims need to “take some responsibility” for acts of terrorism.

“Unfortunately, there has been a mutation of Islam in Australia and other Western countries where they have sought to kill other citizens, not just Jewish people, but other citizens,” Bragg told ABC radio on Wednesday.

He said religious teachings must not incite violence.

Morrison’s remarks undermine social cohesion, Muslim leaders say

The Australian National Imams Council (ANIC), the peak body representing Muslim leaders, criticised the remarks of both Morrison and Bragg.

“Islamophobia does not require spectacular acts of violence to be harmful,” ANIC said in a statement. “The normalisation of stereotypes, pejorative labels, and inflammatory language steadily erodes social trust and undermines social cohesion.”

ANIC said Morrison’s comments “implying that Islam or Muslims bear responsibility for the recent terrorist attacks at Bondi” were “reckless, irresponsible, and deeply ill-informed”.

“We call on former Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Senator Bragg, and all political parties and leaders to act with responsibility, restraint, and integrity in their public commentary, and to refrain from using divisive and misleading terms such as ‘radical Islam’, ‘extremist Islam’ or other divisive language,” the statement read.

Meanwhile, the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils (AFIC) said Morrison’s comments were “profoundly dangerous” and framed “Muslim communities as objects of suspicion rather than equal citizens”.

AFIC said it rejected the premise Islam required “special regulation, surveillance, or state-imposed oversight”.

“When senior political figures single out Islam in this way, they legitimise the very hatred they claim to oppose,” AFIC president Rateb Jneid said.

And the Islamic Council of Victoria said it was “absurd” to hold the Muslim community accountable for the actions of two gunmen.

“The Australian government does not hold entire communities accountable for acts of violence committed by individuals, and the same standard must apply to Muslims,” chief executive Zakaria Wahid said in a statement.

The December 14 terror attack saw two gunmen — who police allege were father and son Sajid and Naveed Akram — open fire near a Hanukkah event at the iconic Sydney beach, killing 15 people.

The Australian Federal Police has alleged that one gunman was inspired by the self-proclaimed Islamic State group. It believes the gunmen acted alone and were not part of a broader terrorist cell.

“We’ve been very clear these acts were committed by people who believed an extreme perversion of Islam, and to try and hold the entire Islamic community responsible for these acts, I think, is anti-social cohesion,” Defence Minister Pat Conroy told ABC radio on Wednesday in response to Morrison’s remarks.

“It’s incredibly unfair, and it’s not a recipe for taking this country forward.”

One of the deadliest terror attacks in Australian history prompted parliament to return for two emergency days last week to pass a suite of new reforms.

It included gun law reforms that strengthened background checks and firearms importation rules.

The legislation also bans hate groups and has increased penalties for hate speech.

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