The West Australian premier, Roger Cook, has urged the community to condemn the use of 'dog whistling' and 'language of division' in mainstream politics after a 20-year-old man was charged with preparing a terrorist attack. Jayson Joseph Michaels, from Bindoon, appeared at Perth magistrates court on Friday, facing charges including acting in preparation for a terrorist act, possessing a prohibited weapon, two firearms offences and using a carriage service to menace or harass.
Police said they found a manifesto-style document outlining plans for a nationalist and racist ideologically motivated act of violent extremism involving mass casualties during a search of his home. The premier joined Muslim leaders and the WA police commissioner at a Perth mosque on Saturday, where he echoed the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, in calling on political leaders to 'lower the temperature' of debate, especially over immigration.
'Stop the language of division, which you see entering the mainstream political debate today – dog whistling under the guise of immigration policy,' Cook said. 'People who would demonise whole sections of our community. It is not acceptable, and we must all, as a community and as one, condemn it and stand up to it.'
The Imam of the Perth mosque, Mohammed Shakib, said 'divisive rhetoric has to stop' in politics. Referring to comments by One Nation leader Pauline Hanson, who recently claimed there were no good Muslims, Shakib said Islamophobia had become normalised. 'How on earth can you have a certain politician that demonises an entire faith group? 1.8bn people. That's a quarter of humanity,' he said.
WA police commissioner Col Blanch said white supremacy was not prevalent in the community, but there was a 'very, very small minority' of people seeking to do harm. He noted that young, lonely men could be radicalised online and emphasised the need for 'care and love and support and friends and purpose in life'. Police are investigating whether Michaels was influenced by others after he allegedly participated in a Telegram group chat with other Australians and overseas individuals. Michaels was refused bail and is next due to appear in court on 23 March.
