Senator Eric Abetz has applauded an article written by one of his staff calling for an “open-border approach to Muslim migration” to be reconsidered.

The shadow attorney general, Mark Dreyfus, was critical, saying the comments amounted to supporting calls for a crackdown on Muslim immigration.

On Saturday the Spectator Australia published an article by the ACT Young Liberal president and media officer to Abetz, Josh Manuatu, with the headline Kruger is right – Muslim immigration should be carefully considered.

In it, Manuatu defended the TV presenter Sonia Kruger – who called for a ban on Muslim migration – for “speaking her mind and not backing down”.

“As a gay man, I am deeply concerned about what an open-border approach to Muslim immigration would mean for me in circumstances where every single day in the Middle East people suspected of being gay are publicly hung or stoned to death,” he wrote.

“Similarly, I couldn’t bemoan any woman who may be similarly concerned about the consequences of having an open-border approach from countries where it is a crime for a woman to dare to receive an education or to choose her own clothing.”

Manuatu claimed to support Australia’s open and accepting approach to migrants, but said “if it is done in an orderly way that ensures that immigrants understand our way of life”.

“Raising these concerns is and should be unremarkable in a democracy and we should be able to engage in an adult conversation about the risks and ways to mitigate against them,” he wrote.

Abetz praised the article, describing it as “a great article ... on why we need an open and frank discussion on the future of immigration”.

A great article from a member of my staff on why we need an open and frank discussion on the future of immigration. https://t.co/ciEBvB6LPo — Eric Abetz (@SenatorAbetz) July 24, 2016

At a press conference to discuss proposed anti-terrorism law changes on Monday, Dreyfus took aim at Abetz and LNP MP George Christensen for sending “contradictory messages” about Islamic extremism in Australia.

Christensen has pointed to unfounded claims the Munich shooter was motivated by Islam to claim vindication of his own incorrect claims an incident at a Sydney police station was a radical Islamist terrorist attack.

Dreyfus said Christensen had “developed a habit of labelling all incidents of violence as terrorism before such a cause has been determined” and said he had been admonished by the attorney general, George Brandis, for doing so.

Dreyfus said Christensen had been “extremely unhelpful in efforts to counter-radicalisation and reduce unnecessary hysteria about Islamist extremism in Australia”.

“You could add to that senator Abetz’s comments today where he is commending and supporting calls for a crackdown on Muslim immigration,” he said.

Dreyfus called on Brandis and the prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, to disown the pair.

Abetz told Guardian Australia it was “important to have these conversations in an open and frank way” and condemned what he called the “disgraceful vilification” of Kruger.

“Australians have every right to want to control their borders and the kinds of generosity that we extend to those most in need from abroad,” he said.

Abetz said the current immigration policy gets the balance right, is orderly and ensures migrants settle and contribute to society.

“It is important that all people who come to Australia fully understand our values and the expectations on all Australians,” he said. “That cannot be achieved if we have an open-door policy advocated by people like the Greens.”



Manuatu told Guardian Australia he had not advocated a crackdown on Muslim migration or a discriminatory immigration policy.

“We don’t have an open slather approach at the moment,” he said. “The point I was trying to make was that discussions about our borders should be able to be conducted openly without vilification.”

Immigrants should be made aware of Australia’s way of life including “fully embracing the rights of gay people and having a good approach to women’s rights”.