Australia saw the launch of its first Islamic political party, its founder Diaa Mohamed announced Tuesday.
"Four or five anti-Islamic parties are being created and we thought we need to do something to address that," the Sydney businessman told ABC Radio.
These include the Australian Liberty Alliance, launched recently at a ceremony attended by controversial Dutch right-wing politician Geert Wilders.
The launch of the Australian Muslim Party was almost called off after Friday's terrorist attacks in Paris, but Mohamed and his supporters decided to go ahead.
"There are going to be a lot of questions," he conceded, but added "this is the whole reason we created this party."
The party is hoping for a seat in the Senate in elections next year, and Mohamed, 34, said he was confident of recruiting the 500 members required to field any candidates.

Al Bawaba