E/CN.4/1998/6/Add.1 page 11 mosques. The opposition of non-Muslim inhabitants near building sites of places of worship were expressed as fears that there would be noise and vehicle traffic when believers arrived and left. Such fears reflect apprehensions based on difference and ignorance, if not a form of racism. These problems now occur only sporadically and are said to have been solved through dialogue. 41. The Special Rapporteur found the attitude of the authorities to be positive and constructive. Official initiatives of particular interest include the following announcement by the Prime Minister of New South Wales during the Id al-Fitr celebration on 9 February 1997: “The provision of prayer facilities in the workplace is important for Muslim workers and I have always believed that the public service as the State's largest employer should set an example. The Government will introduce amendments to the public service handbook to ensure public sector workplaces make every effort to provide space for prayer where there is a need. The Ethnic Affairs Commission and the Department of Public Works will work together to ensure that suitable washing facilities are incorporated into the design of public sector workplaces in the future.” 42. The Muslim community finally seems to be able to express itself fully in matters of religion, a situation to which Australian authorities and institutions have contributed. The Special Rapporteur particularly wishes to stress the basic role of the New South Wales Ethnic Affairs Commission, which has, inter alia, set up the Interdepartmental Committee on Religious Development, which encourages the participation of ethnic groups and their unity within society and whose mandate is to solve problems between various official and private actors, conduct inquiries, formulate recommendations and monitor their implementation. (b) Other areas 43. The Australian Muslim community is characterized by experience based on sound community structures, including cultural centres, places of worship, schools and a network of associations enabling this minority not only to preserve its cultural and religious identity, but also to integrate in Australian society. 44. This harmony may sometimes be disturbed as a result of the impact of international events (the Gulf war, for example) and national events (political statements against “foreigners” by MP Pauline Hanson, for example). However, these appear to be more incidents of racism based mostly on ignorance and not manifestations of religious intolerance. The incidents relating to the Gulf war and cases of verbal aggression against Muslim women wearing the headscarf, are indicative of the ignorance of persons who associate Saddam Hussein with Islam and, in general, terrorism with Arabs and Muslims (much of this confusion is, moreover, created by the Australian and non-Australian media). These incidents were handled in a positive way through dialogue between the various denominations which led, for example, to the dissemination of a joint statement by religious communities as well as by political and security authorities, calling for tolerance. Questions are sometimes asked about the clothing some Muslim women wear, their status and their place in the working world, as well as about recognition of Muslim