Sydney, Australia - The Parliamentary Secretary for Multicultural Affairs, Andrew Robb, says a new Islamic studies centre should help encourage moderate teaching and practise of the religion in Australia.
The Federal Government is helping fund the centre, which will be run by a consortium of three universities.
Mr Robb says once the centre is established, young Australian Muslims will not have to study overseas to become leaders in their religion.
"We want it to be a world-class centre for Islamic studies so that we can encourage Australian Muslims who have got aspirations to being religious, to become home-grown imams, to learn their religious practice within the context of an Australian university course," he said.
He says academic and community advisory boards will help oversee the Centre.
"An advisory body with Muslims on it, probably with other denominations on it and with some Government representation will satisfy everyone in the community that this centre is making a constructive contribution to the sensible practise of Islam in Australia," he said.
Labor's multicultural affairs spokesman Laurie Ferguson says the Government will have to carefully select its representative for the advisory board.
"Let's try and find somebody who's got broad knowledge, who's respected by all mainstream aspects of Islam, let's find somebody who's got academic credentials, who is respected and can be a force for uniting people rather than a force for division," he said.