In an interview with SBS, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said Immigration Minister Peter Dutton was "misrepresented, recklessly so" over his comments that appeared to link Lebanese migration in the 1970s with concerns around planned terrorist activity today.
During question time on November 21, Mr Dutton said: "The advice I have is that out of the last 33 people who have been charged with terrorist-related offences in this country, 22 of those people are from second and third generation Lebanese-Muslim background."
When questioned whether Mr Dutton referring to migration in the 1970s as a mistake, Mr Turnbull spoke about multiculturalism.
"The real issue is what are we doing today, and what are we doing today is ensuring that we maintain the most successful multicultural society in the world," he said.
"And we do that by having a generous immigration program, but one that is very well managed and the humanitarian component of it, the refugee program, again is very well managed."
On the parliamentary year
The prime minister described the wrapping up of the parliamentary sitting year as "weeks of great achievement", brushing off the earlier parliamentary stalemate over the backpacker tax and two days of protests at parliament house over asylum seeker policy.
"We've secured the passage of the two bills that were the triggers for the double dissolution," he said.
"Today, as you’ve seen, we’ve secured agreement to ensure that the backpacker tax is established at 15 per cent at the headline rate and we’ve done that with the support of a number of the cross-benchers and the Greens."
On US relations
Mr Turnbull said that US president elect Donald Trump “absolutely affirmed” the US alliance with Australia and the greater Asia-Pacific region when they spoke shortly after the US election result was known.
He reiterated that the US “has a vital vested interest in the part of this world”.
“Presidents and indeed prime ministers come and go, but the great national interest of great powers are enduring,” he said.
On SBS
The prime minister also expressed his support for the broadcaster when asked to comment on the public speculation about a future merger with the ABC.
“I can assure you we have a very rigorous budget progress, and I’m not going to provide any forecasts about funding for SBS,” he answered.
The Australian Government provides most of SBS’s funding, and the prime minister said SBS would continue to receive it.
He described it as a “very important institution”.
“You’ve heard the way I’ve spoken about it in the past and I think you understand I’m a great admirer of what you do to support multiculturalism and contribute to the success of our great multicultural society.”
At a UN summit on migration in New York in September, Malcolm Turnbull cited SBS for nurturing the country’s cultural diversity.
"At a time when global concern around immigration and border control is rising, the need to build community support for migration has never been clearer," he said.
"As just one example, there is SBS, founded nearly 40 years ago, the public broadcaster, not only broadcasting in dozens of languages, but interpreting and celebrating our multicultural society, and the values of mutual respect to the whole society."
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