The author states early in his piece: "Clearly the cultural and historical differences between Christian and Muslim communities worldwide are too wide to make a complete reconciliation, but, given the alternatives, a creative dialogue must continue." WHY?

The reason why is because Muslims cannot get over the crusades; Muslims cannot accept other religions have as valid access to 'god' as they do; and Muslims cannot separate themselves from the negative tribal Arabic traditions such as Sharia Law and a male dominated morality system.

I'm happy to live and let live as long as the others can extend me the same courtesy. I have no problem with multiculturalism as long as everyone respects the others.

I am happy to accept the 2.2% Muslim population in Australia however I do not want that percentage to increase as it has in England and throughout Europe. Where the Muslim population has reached 4.5 - 5%, that's where the issues of Sharia Law, separate suburbs/boroughs, and increases in extremism have caused serious problems that start to rock the foundations of the host society.

Call me Islamophobic, I don't care, I want the borders closed to further Muslim immigrants and protection from the problems we will receive if we turn a blind eye to the reality like the politically correct are doing.

Muslims can't get over their hatred of all other religions, the crusades were purely defensive, it amounted to what? Maybe 20 major battles in 200 years, Islam has been battering Europe constantly for 1400 years. The main front has shifted to Russia in recent times but once North Africa falls to ISIS and they take up piracy and slave raiding across the Mediterranean it'll be on again.

Muslims live by the Koran; is there need to say more?

<<Muslims live by the Koran; is there need to say more?>>

Yes, Muhammad, peace be upon him, did not live by the Koran.

He didn't write it either - the Koran is a much later invention, edited since the 690's and into the 8th century - watch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3CfQlvivt4

Just show the Muslims that they were betrayed and diverted from following the true teachings of their beloved prophet - and all will be well.

"Just show the Muslims that they were betrayed and diverted from following the true teachings of their beloved prophet - and all will be well."

and how does one do that, whilst keeping one's head on one's shoulders?

"... if Australians were more knowledgeable about Muslims they would express more favorable opinions of Muslims and Islam."

Probably just the opposite, the more knowledgeable Kuffars are about Islam, the more likely that they will acquire strongly negative attitudes towards Islam, that's certainly been my experience.
Islam is a totalitarian ideology that's inimical to Western liberal democratic traditions, the evidence is in the nature of modern Muslim-majority societies. No amount of multi-culti pixie dust will obscure the violent and chaotic reality of Islamic culture.

We're running an uncontrolled social experiment in the expectation that, in the long term, Islamic culture will be compatible with liberal democracy, let's hope.