It comes as the government strengthens its anti-terror laws in response to the deadly attacks on NSW Police accountant Curtis Cheng, who was killed by a 15-year-old boy who chanted “Allahu Akbar” as he pulled the trigger.

Mr McCormack said the attack was an eye-opener into the reach of radicalisation.

“The attack in Parramatta was abhorrent, and when young people as young as 15 become radicalised and perpetrate such heinous crimes, it just makes you wonder where some sections of the community are going and why we have failed to stop this sort of thing happening,” he said. “When a 15-year-old seems to think that this is an option, it makes you wonder where society is headed … 15-year-old boys should be out in the backyard kicking footballs.”

Mr McCormack said at-risk people needed to be identified early and called on the community to be alert.

“All parts of the community need to be aware and remain vigilant,” he said.

Since the Parramatta tragedy, Muslim leaders have come under public scrutiny and have faced questions about their efforts to combat extremism.

Multicultural Council of Wagga manager Belinda Crain said while the focus had been on the Muslim community, she believed extremism was indiscriminate.

“My view is that extremism can happen anywhere, and at any time,” she said.

“So it’s not just a problem for the Muslim community, but other communities as well. We need to be talking about this, we need to have unity and look at our similarities and not differences.”

In August, Wagga was pinpointed by deputy police commissioner Nick Kaldas as a place at risk of migrant teenagers turning to violent extremism.

He said the bridges built between law enforcement agencies and Sydney’s Middle Eastern communities needed to be replicated in regional towns and cities to reduce the risk of radicalisation in the country.

But Ms Crain did not think Wagga was a place at particular risk of violent extremism and sighted close community relationships as a reason why.

“There is talk about young teens becoming isolated,” she said. “But I just don’t see that here. We have very small numbers and as a result we have formed close relationships … I know every (migrant) family that comes here.”

Ms Crain added that opening lines of communication with at-risk teens and “calling it for what it is” was a way to tackle extremism.