A NEW political party launched last year by controversial Dutch politician Geert Wilders held a public meeting in Mandurah last Thursday night, with the aim of signing up members.
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Senate candidate Marion Hercock said the Australian Liberty Alliance was “interested in freedom of speech, maintaining our western values, individual liberty and a small government”.
However, Ms Hercock admitted the party’s primary focus was anti-Islamic.
“Most of all we are concerned about stopping the Islamisation of Australia, which we see as a growing threat to our society,” she said.
“We’re saying why can’t we have a critical debate, why can’t we criticise Islam?”
Ms Hercock said she opposed letting people of Islamic faith immigrate to Australia.
“We stand on reducing Islamic immigration, for example these Syrians who’ve come here, they would be much better off in a country with similar values like Saudia Arabia or Oman.”
But Ms Hercock rejected accusations her party harboured a racist element.
“People from alien cultures are better off going somewhere they will find more familiar,” she said.
When pressed for examples of the “encroachment of Islamic culture and laws upon Australian values” she cited the existence of prayer rooms.
“The new stadium has a prayer room which nobody else will be allowed in, and also halal certification; why should everyone else have to pay for halal?” she said.
Ms Hercock said she had no problems with Christianity as it had long been part of Australian culture.
“Well, Christians aren’t out to kill people,” she said.
“Several” people joined the party, according to an Australian Liberty Alliance media statement.