Source: The Age/AAP
On September 17, 2006 the Australian Associated Press reported, "Australia's Islamic clerics will set up a national board to tackle issues such as terrorism and provide the Muslim community with one united voice. More than 100 imams backed the plan during a two-day conference, which wrapped up in Sydney on Sunday. They also supported the establishment of a national centre for excellence for Muslim and non-Muslim students wanting to learn about Islamic studies and culture. The proposed national board to represent the Muslim community will either be made up of imams or a mix of Islamic religious and community leaders... Its main focus would be dealing with terrorism, legal issues, imam accreditation and the training of future Islamic leaders... The imams' decision to set up the new board came after federal Parliamentary Secretary for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs Andrew Robb told them on Saturday they should draw on Islamic teachings to condemn terrorism, and preach in English... Australian Multicultural Foundation chairman Hass Dellal said the imams had considered many overseas models, including the North America Islamic Council, on which to base the new national board."