Officials were concerned that removing her from the board could ignite further social and ethnic divisions at a time when intelligence agencies were stressing the need to engage with the Muslim community.
Julie Bishop has now completed her serious consideration of the Abdel-Magied matter and has written to Eric Abetz in response to his call for her dismissal.
Abdel Magied won't be dismissed, she'll be "mentored".
The Australian has obtained a copy of the letter to Senator Abetz and reports
Ms Bishops was convinced that no good would be served by Ms Abdel Magied's removal and that instead she would be “mentored”.
“She apologised profusely to me and the Australian Government,” Ms Bishop wrote, having also said she was “dismayed” by Ms Abdel Magied’s remarks.
“Given that Ms Abdel Magied did not seek to defend her words, that the post was removed and that she apologised, there is no need for me to make referenced to the issue of the right of free speech, which has also been raised with me by other members of Parliament.
“As to her part time position as a member of the CAAR advisory board, I have made inquiries of a number of people familiar with her work on CAAR. Without exception, they are of the view that she has made a significant and positive contribution to CAAR and its objectives and has communicated a positive image of Australia as an inclusive, tolerant and multicultural nation …"
“Further I sought advice from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and no precedent can be found for termination of a membership across all our foundations, councils, boards and institutes including CAAR”.
Officials were concerned that removing her from the board could ignite further social and ethnic divisions at a time when intelligence agencies were stressing the need to engage with the Muslim community.
It is believed Ms Abdel Magied accepted the offer of mentoring support.
ENDS
Tasmanian Liberal Senator Eric Abetz has written to the Minister for Foreign Affairs asking that Yassmin Abdel Magied to be dismissed from her official government advisory positions over her unacceptable comments on ANZAC day.
Ms Abdel Magied, according to the DFAT website, is a member of the Council for Australian-Arab Relations. The Minister for Foreign Affairs may terminate the appointment of a member of the Board at any time by notice in writing.
“Ms Abdel Magied has demonstrated that she is unfit and lacks the judgement to build stronger Australian-Arab relations and as a result her appointment should be terminated as a matter of urgency,” Senator Abetz said.
“To understand the significance and high regard ANZAC day is held in our Australian culture should be a minimum and basic requirement to serve on such a body. Ms Magied fails that test.”
“I note a number of Islamic leaders have similarly condemned Ms Abdel Magied’s reprehensible comments for seeking to make political mileage out of ANZAC day.”
“During the Rudd/Gillard/Rudd Governments, Ms Abdel Magied was given a number of plumb government appointments including to the G20 Youth Steering Committee, and outrageously as it happens to the Federal ANZAC Centenary Commemoration Youth Working Group.”
“I am hopeful that the Government will take action to remove Ms Abdel Magied from her role given her very poor judgement,” Senator Abetz concluded.