Tony Abbott, former prime minister of Australia, calls for change in Islam during his recent interview, saying change needs to start by working with Muslims.

"Muslims have got to do this for themselves, but we should work with those who are pushing in that direction," Abbott said in an interview with Sky News, adding that to achieve reform, people must learn to work and live with Muslims.

According to Abbott, Australians need not apologise for adapting Western culture, saying, "The other thing that’s needed is a restoration of cultural self-confidence in those who are supporters of Western civilisation."

He also slammed terrorism and said that "all cultures are not equal, a culture that believes in decency and tolerance is as much preferred to one that says it can kill in the name of God."

The former prime minister mentioned that there are a number of Muslim leaders who believe that there is a need for modernisation of faith, citing Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi and quoting him, "There needs to be a religious revolution inside Islam."

Abbott believed in the need for campaigns against mind campaigns that create excuses for terrorists.

During his interview with Sky News, Abbott also pointed out Barack Obama's reference to the Islamic State as a death cult, approving Obama's decision to put special operations forces in Syria and Iraq. He felt the US president's will to win and Abbott found it "encouraging."

Abbott said that the Islamic State must be destroyed because it can no longer be contained, and in so doing, it requires not only a "strong security response" but also a "hearts and minds response."

Meanwhile, Greens Leader Richard Di Natale said that the former prime minister needs to find a "nice hobby" and "pull his head in."

Di Natale told Sky News that Abbott is "an incredible divisive, destructive force within the Australian political landscape."

Labor MP Ed Husic also said that the objective of was to "keep the community together, not divide it." According to Husic, what these Australian politicians are doing is to "Trumpify" Australian politics, referring to controversial US presidential contender Donald Trump.

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