Independent MP Bob Katter has said that the ‘time has come’ to stop people from the Middle East and North Africa coming to Australia, reports Sky News.
The minister’s comments come in the wake of the fatal stabbing of British woman, Mia Ayliffe-Chung in a Townsville Backpacker hostel where the assailant allegedly yelled ‘Allahu Akbar’ during the attack.
“The time has come now to stop people from those countries coming to Australia – and if that is an extremist position, is it an extremist position for Saudi Arabia and Dubai… they won’t let any of those people in,” Mr Katter said.
“I think the risk to the Australian people now is so great that that should not occur anymore,” he explained.
The member for Kennedy said he was astounded the Government continues to let “630,000 people into Australia each year in an economy that’s only generating 200,000 jobs.”
Meanwhile the man believed to be responsible for the frenzied knife attack – which also left another victim, Tom Jackson, 30 fighting for his life – is a French national with no known links to terrorism. Smail Ayad was arrested at was arrested at the scene.
A dog was also stabbed to death.
Police are still investigating what happened in the lead up to the incident.