Severin.>>Just because other countries are intolerant (like Saudi Arabia) doesn't mean that Australia has to follow suit. In fact the reason people prefer living here is precisely because we do not practise active, government sanctioned discrimination.<<

How is Saudi intolerant? They are a Muslim country ruled by a monarch and governed by Sharia law. It is "their" cultural and judicial system, and unlike the old Soviet bloc, as a citizen if you don't like it you can leave. What you fail to appreciate is that their system is as culturally alien to the west as ours is to them. We reel back in dismay at their laws, and they look at street level criminality in our communities and laugh.

Middle Eastern countries do not have problems with youth street crime as we have in the west. They have a broken window policy when ensuring the security of the greater community; they police their laws, and are pro active in preserving their culture. Exactly the way every sovereign nation should be, and stupid Australia is not.

Regarding your comment “the reason people prefer living here is precisely because we do not practice active, government sanctioned discrimination". Consider this, the Muslim immigrants who have reached minority numbers in western cultures all have raised the issue of Sharia Law being incorporated into the existing judicial system. Be careful of what you wish for, and appreciate a society such as the Saudi's, they are covering their own behinds, unlike stupid Australia and the bleeding hearts.

A little more pro discrimination for "our" culture from our elected representatives is what is needed. As I said re the burqa, wear whatever you like, but no sacks covering your face in government offices, financial institutions, schools, or whilst driving.

Pynchme>>The whole thing is a storm in a teacup. It will be a miracle if it's seen anywhere in a couple of generations.<<

With some respect, you really have not got a clue. This culture does not give up its customs as easily as we in Australia do. Unlike our customs that have a heritage of a couple of hundred years, their culture has lasted for thousands. If we aussies went to the middle east en masse we would be dressing like Arabs within a generation. The burqua will always be a component of Muslim society to varying degrees as long as the culture prevails, once again, unlike ours.

Sonofgloin

As a woman, I find some restrictions of Sharia Law extremely intolerant. If you are male you may have no problems with Sharia Law. You have also taken my comment out of context, because I then went on to demonstrate Australian Law's discrimination against non-religious tax-payers.

I do not wish Australia to become even less tolerant than it already is by dictating dress-codes.

<"The whole thing is a storm in a teacup. It will be a miracle if it's seen anywhere in a couple of generations.">

Sonofgloin, I can see where I failed to describe what I meant.

I was referring to the burqua in Australian society.

There are lots of reasons why it will be a rarity, if seen at all, in Australia within a couple of generations.

We don't need to do anything like banning; social pressure will take care of it.

Pynchme>>We don't need to do anything like banning; social pressure will take care of it.<<
>>There are lots of reasons why it will be a rarity, if seen at all, in Australia within a couple of generations.<<

I am not advocating banning the wearing of any clothing, other than face covering garb in government offices, banks, schools, and while driving.
But there will always be a segment of Muslims whose religion will over ride social derision or assimilation in regard to their cultural traditions. They came in burqas in 1970, and I can go to half a dozen suburbs today and see women in burqas, Pynchme that is forty years, the couple of generations you mentioned to assimilate has come and gone.

Aaaa'll a say it again....

the only issue here is LAW .. if we make a law banning it for whatever reason..it's game over.. end of story.

Australian law (though the Human Righs Commissions are fighting this tooth and nail for their green socialist masters George Soros and Maurice Strong) always has to trump 'Human Rights' law.

Freedom of religion has nothing to do with it... aint a theological issue I'm afraid. just a democratic and legal one.

It would only be a 'theological' issue IF.. our law is subjected to Human Rights law 'AS interpreted' by certain liberal elite bottom feeding slime.

This will definitely be a federal and state (Vic) political issue.