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CANBERRA -- Former prime minister Tony Abbott has joined calls for Australia's domestic spy agency ASIO to be "open and upfront" about Islam and terrorism, saying Australia keeps "tip-toeing" around the religion. Abbott and conservative commentators including Andrew Bolt have rounded on the ASIO boss Duncan Lewis after he gave One Nation leader Pauline Hanson short shrift on Friday during a Senate estimates hearing over her fears Australia's terrorist threat was "being brought in" courtesy of Middle Eastern refugees.

ASIO's Duncan Lewis shutting down Pauline Hanson's questions on Muslims and refugees is worth watching. #estimates#auspolpic.twitter.com/ycONVWGO3K — Luke Henriques-Gomes (@lukehgomes) May 25, 2017

Under Hanson's questioning, Lewis told Parliament he had "absolutely no evidence to suggest there's a connection between refugees and terrorism" and also "no evidence" that children born to refugees were more likely to become radicalised. Bolt has now called on the Director-General of Security to tell the "truth" about refugees and terrorism, "or shut up" and Abbott has backed him up, although he said he is aware ASIO has to work with the Muslim community.

"Obviously, ASIO has to be able to get information from the Muslim community," Abbott told Sydney radio 2GB. "But, by the same token, ASIO has to command the confidence of the Australian community, and that's why you've got to be open and upfront about these things." "And you can't pretend that we don't have a problem, that there isn't a strain of Islam which is doing enormous damage to the whole world." Senator Hanson -- a strident critic of Islam who wants to ban all Muslim immigration -- has posted on Facebook: "Remember, there is only one religion across the globe blowing children up and cutting off infidels heads [sic]. That's Islam." Former prime minister Abbott, who has previously called for a reformation within Islam and who urged new migrants to join Team Australia, has repeated his concern that Australia is in denial over elements of Islam.

Asio head tells Hanson 'no evidence' of link between refugees and terrorism | Australia news | The Guardian https://t.co/D8I4fSOVOC — Kearrin (@KearrinSims) May 28, 2017

"We keep tip-toeing around this subject," Abbott told host Ray Hadley. "And the problem is nearly all of the terrorist incidents are associated with people yelling out 'Allahu Akbar' as they kill." "Now, I am not saying for a second that all Muslims can be lumped into the same basket. Of course not. Of course not. "The overwhelming majority of Muslims right around the world, particularly in here in Australia are decent people. But, but, there is this strain of 'death to the infidel' in Islam and that is where it is vital we work with 'live and let live' Muslims to ensure this 'death to the Infidel strain' is gradually massaged away."

ASIO slaps down Hanson's claim of link between terrorism and refugees | SBS News #auspolhttps://t.co/Z6MPfkE1qu — Jane Salmon (@JSalmonupstream) May 28, 2017

Abbott and the 2GB then complained that there was a dearth of Muslim condemnation in Australia over the Manchester terror attack which killed 22 people at an Ariana Grande concert and accused the Grand Mufti of Australia of not being "sighted off Nobbys". The Mufti had posted to Facebook in the wake of the attack.

But Abbott wants more. "It is a problem," he said. "We need more decent Muslims speaking out against this evil which is being done in the name of their faith. We really do need it. "And every time there is an incident the same message has to be repeated. Any suggestion of death to the infidel has no place in any modern religion." Click below to follow HuffPost Australia Politics on Facebook!