Diversity in politics risks dysfunction and division

“Diversity” has become a sacred Western dogma. To question it is sacrilege. Senator Fatima Payman has cited diversity as part of her defence for crossing the floor, stating that there cannot be diversity in personality and representation among Labor MPs without diversity of views and opinions. A truism of any human organisation, but if every individual or group only adhered to, upheld and obeyed their own “views and opinions”, what then? Senator Payman has also said she is motivated by the desire for “freedom from violence, freedom from oppression and freedom of equality”. Who would argue with such goals? But is diversity the way to achieve them? When the wellbeing of the whole is threatened by disparity between its parts; when diversity translates into silos or ghettos within our communities or political parties; when diversity becomes divisive, fuelled by conflict over ideology, faith, culture and politics, then dysfunction and hostility flourish.

Diversity is beneficial when encompassed by an overarching unity. Sadly, Australia’s uplifting, “We are one but we are many” is at risk of becoming a mere platitude, veiling an increasingly divided nation.

Deborah Morrison, Malvern East, Vic

For anyone seeking to understand the trajectory of Australian politics, your editorial (“Mid-East threat to Labor is bigger than just Payman”, 5/7) is essential reading.

Similar to the UK and the EU, immigration from the Middle East and Africa has created a significant political bloc in Australia.

The Muslim Vote organisation, driven by an anti-Israel agenda, aims to harness the electoral power of our one million-strong Muslim population. Unlike conflicts in Sudan, Syria or Ukraine, activists more broadly have adopted Gaza as their cause celebre. In any case, it seems absurd that a conflict so distant could disrupt our political status quo. The activists who climbed Parliament House and displayed inflammatory slogans represent only the beginning of a more concerning trend. ASIO head Mike Burgess warned in February that “Sunni extremism poses the greatest religiously motivated threat in Australia”.

It is crucial for the two major parties to work in a bipartisan manner to eliminate any extremism, including that potentially promoted by the emerging Muslim political movement, evidently supported by the Greens, the delinquents of our political system.

John Kempler, Rose Bay, NSW

The Labor Party has only itself to blame for the resignation by Senator Fatima Payman. Rather than unequivocally espouse the cause of democracy, which allows for the freedom of speech, religion, beliefs and cultural expression, all of which are prohibited in Gaza, Iran and Afghanistan but encouraged in Israel, it has sat on the fence on the Middle East crisis for fear of upsetting Muslim voters.

The end result is that nobody knows what the Labor Party actually stands for. Given the above freedoms allowed in Australia, I wonder what the aims of a Muslim-based political party actually would be. Any involvement, directly or indirectly, in an overseas conflict would obviously threaten social harmony. Clearly, the majority of Australians have no desire to transport overseas conflicts of faith or ideologies into the country, otherwise we’d have political parties of Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Christians, Jews, Shintoists, Daoists and others. (“Don’t underestimate the damage Fatima Payman’s resignation has done to Labor”, 5/7).

Ron Hobba, Camberwell, Vic

Senator Fatima Payman has only added fuel to the Greens and the broader “pro-Palestine” political movement by quitting the Labor Party, in a stunt some may consider to have been orchestrated by the Greens. They see their route to power by fostering anarchy. Australian Muslims need to think very carefully before segregating themselves from the rest of the Australian community in a faithbased political party. Politics is historically about philosophies and not religion.

Paul Everingham, Hamilton, Qld

Senator Fatima Payman’s resignation – and her stance on the war in Gaza – needs to be called out for what it is. Recognising Palestinian statehood without a two-state solution, and ignoring the centrality of the safe return of Israeli hostages, does nothing to expedite the end of the war.

Gayla Kay, Bondi Junction, NSW