Turnbull urges Australians to maintain mutual respect

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has urged Australians to maintain an environment of mutual respect a week after the Parramatta Police shooting.

"This phenomenon of violent extremism is a challenge to the most fundamental Australian values” he stated on Friday at a media conference in Sydney held to appeal for unity and respect.

He described the shooting in Parramatta as an "act of terrorism" and a “brutal murder”. "Respect for each other, respect for our country, respect for our shared values, these are the things that make this country one of the most successful countries in the world, as a multicultural country in particular," he said.

"He was murdered in an act of terrorism by a 15-year-old boy, motivated we believe by extremists political and religious views," Mr Turnbull added.

The conference was called by Turnbull a week after 15-year-old gunman Farhad Jabar shot and killws police accountant Curtis Cheng as he was leaving the police headquarters in Parramatta. Police have been investigating the cause of the attack and believe that the gunman wasn’t a “lone wolf.”

Turnbull also sent a message to people who have been inciting hatred and terrorism, saying earlier that anyone who was finding it difficult to cope with Australian values was free to leave the nation.

"It is not compulsory to live in Australia, if you find Australian values are unpalatable, then there's a big wide world out there and people have got freedom of movement," he said.

He also announced that Australia’s top security officials would conduct a meeting in Canberra next week to discuss ways to combat the increasing terror attacks based on religious extremism.

Before Turnbull, Parramatta Mosque chairman Neil El-Kadomi Neil also told worshippers to leave Australia if they don’t like it rather than spreading hatred. Opposition Leader Bill Shorten also expressed a similar opinion. "If you really hate Australia, well then you should go,” he said.

Australia’s prominent figures from the Muslim community have extended their condolences to Cheng’s family. The grand mufti of Australia, Dr Ibrahim Abu Mohamed, and other religious leaders have condemned the attack and said the entire community was facing challenges due to acts of violent extremism, reported the Guardian.

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