Senior Australian minister downplays threat posed by Islamic State

A senior member of the Australian government has downplayed the threat posed to the country by Islamic State (IS), in a view which is a stark contrast to that of Prime Minister Tony Abbott.

In a speech at the Sydney Institute on Tuesday evening, Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull said it was important to keep the threat in perspective, and not overstate the risk posed to the Australian public.

"Now, just as it's important not to underestimate or be complacent about the national security threat from Daesh (or IS), it is equally important not to overestimate that threat," he said.

"We should be careful not to say or do things which can be seen to add credibility to these delusions."

Turnbull's words come just weeks after Abbott, who labels IS a "death cult," said the organization was "coming after us" and was "coming after every person and every government."

Turnbull denied the comments were directed to Prime Minister Abbott, who has been accused of using scaremongering tactics in relation to the threat posed by Islamic State.

"The prime minister has been very measured in his comments on all these things as we all have," he told the press following his speech.

It is not the first time the communications minister has been at loggerheads with the prime minister.

Turnbull was touted as a potential replacement for Tony Abbott when the coalition staged a controversial leadership ballot in February. The spill motion, however, did not pass.

In May, it was also revealed that Turnbull was one key minister who disagreed with Tony Abbott over a policy proposal which would serve to strip the citizenship of Australian nationals who engage in terrorist activities. Endi