Former Speaker of the House of Representatives Bronwyn Bishop has called on the government to act against Islamic jihadists hiding in our communities.
Ms Bishop, who served as an elected representative for almost 30 years, described extremists who seek to destroy Australia from within as a ‘fifth column’.
Pointing to terror plots and attacks in Sydney, London and Barcelona, she criticised the response of governments and accused them of appeasement.
Former Speaker of the House of Representatives Bronwyn Bishop (pictured) has called on the government to act against Islamic jihadists hiding in our communities
Ms Bishop, who served as an elected representative for almost 30 years, described extremists who seek to destroy Australia from within as a ‘fifth column’ (pictured are police during the Lindt Cafe siege in Sydney)
Pointing to terror plots and attacks in Sydney (pictured), London and Barcelona, she criticised the response of governments and accused them of appeasement
‘There is a fifth column in our midst. People who have infiltrated our society harbouring a hatred of us,’ she wrote in The Spectator.
‘People we allow to come to our country in the belief that they wished to become part of us and to join our way of life. Instead, it appears many have come with the seeds of hate in their heart.’
She said government must take action, stop telling people to accept and submit, and stop shouting down those such as herself that are brave enough to speak up.
Vicious terrorists aiming to intimidate people and fill them with fear are succeeding, she said, because we are turning the other cheek.
‘There is a fifth column in our midst. People who have infiltrated our society harbouring a hatred of us,’ said Ms Bishop (pictured)
The term fifth column comes from the Spanish Civil War, and refers to a small group of people who work on behalf of an enemy to undermine a larger group.
Ms Bishop believes Australia and the West is beset by a fifth column of Islamic jihadists who are working to betray their host nations from within.
She likened them to the original Assassins, who infiltrated societies across the Middle East after their formation in the eleventh century.
Much like modern-day Muslim extremists who believe paradise awaits if they die during jihad, the Assassins were prepared to die while serving their leader.
Ms Bishop believes Australia and the West is beset by a fifth column of Islamic jihadists who are working to betray their host nations from within (pictured is Brisbane woman Sara Zelenak who was murdered in a London terrorist attack)
Governments must do away with policies of appeasement, work to fight the fear created by terrorism and counteract it said Ms Bishop (pictured is South Australian woman Kirsty Boden, who was murdered in a London terrorist attack)
But Ms Bishop pointed out unlike the hashish-affected Assassins who killed rulers and nobles, Islamic jihadists murder ordinary people.
Governments must do away with policies of appeasement, work to fight the fear created by terrorism and counteract it, she wrote.
Ms Bishop ends on an ominous note, quoting Czech philosopher Komensky: ‘A life of action is life indeed. Idleness is a grave closing in on a man whilst he is still alive.’
The former Minister for Defence Industry’s concerns may be shared by the current government, with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull calling for tougher terror laws.
Mr Turnbull wants new laws in place to allow authorities to hold terror suspect for up to 14 days without charge, and make it an offence to possess ‘instructional terrorist material’ and make terrorism hoaxes.
The changes will be discussed at a Council of Australian Governments meeting in Canberra on Thursday.
Five terrorist attacks have been carried out in Australia in the past three years, with police foiling 13 more, including a recent plot to bomb a domestic flight.
Five terrorist attacks have been carried out in Australia in the past three years, with police foiling 13 more, including a recent plot to bomb a domestic flight (pictured is a Sydney home targeted by police anti-terror raids in July)