The Australian Government will provide a $7 million towards the establishment of an International Centre for Muslim and non-Muslim Understanding at the University of South Australia.

The Centre is being established under the leadership of former Prime Minister, the Hon Bob Hawke AC and aims to be a leading global institution recognised for research excellence.

The Centre’s unique profile will promote understanding and respect through international scholarship and leadership.

The International Centre for Muslim and non-Muslim Understanding will support critical engagement and dialogue at the local, national and global levels and the development of effective policy solutions that can be considered and utilised by governments.

The Centre will probe the basis of tensions between the Muslim and non-Muslim worlds, including the role of the media, with a socio-cultural rather than an exclusively religious focus.

The Centre, which will be located within the Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre, will also examine and propose ways of diffusing tensions and ameliorating relationships at the political, civil and social level both in Australia and internationally.

The Centre seeks to become, overtime, a leading world policy institution and build cultural and social bridges with major international bodies such as the UN.

The Australian Government is pleased to be able to support the Centre together with the Government of South Australia.

The Australian Government will contribute $7m towards the establishment of the Centre from the established Diversity and Structural Adjustment Fund.

The Government’s contribution will be split between the 2009 and 2010 funding rounds, subject to finalisation of funding and project details with the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.

The Australian Government has also recently contributed to the establishment of the Public Policy Institute at the University of Melbourne and the Centre for Social Impact at the University of New South Wales.