Clearly balkanisation is undesirable, and clearly some sets of values are incompatible. Eg. extremist X and anything Y. As a result, a commonly accepted set is required in order for people to form a group, a community or a nation. Holding values incompatible with the existence or presence of another (benevolent) group will without question preclude co-existence, either as a distinct group or otherwise. Possessing this kind of value is unhealthy and brings destruction, cruelty and ill-conceived thoughts. (Just look at the acts of Islamists.) Thus, it is important that this kind of conviction should not be imported, fostered or otherwise encourage by anyone, least of all our Government. It is ridiculous to accept into this country those that would target and destroy us, anyone who suggests the opposite is a fool.

Stone is absolutely correct that "citizenship applicants should also have to pass a reasonable written test of citizenship's meaning: parliamentary democracy, respect for others' rights, the rule of law and a general understanding of the Australian values to which they swear commitment." But it is not enough to merely keep out the destructive elements since many within our country already possess such views, many in our country encourage and teach such views! They should be denounced by all and encouraged to reject such un-Australian values.

And so I call on all members of this forum to denounce such values and posters who hold them. Say no to monoculturalism!

It's no surprise that a racist like John Stone would come up with such a offensive proposition. John is a racist always will be a racist and trying to justify his racist views by linking Islam to terrorism is appalling. The only people who would swallow that are other racist and looking at the names of the people responding positively I rest my case.
Simply look at what John has said in the past about a number of ethic groups. John all but join one nation when they were around and John should follow them and exit stage right. There is no place for relics like John in our multicultural Australia maybe we should deport him. Let me give John and others a hint terrorism has always been with us and always will be. It has been employed by people of all races, faiths and cultures. Should we be putting these conditions on the Irish, Tamil…? As for Islam being a failed culture I would doubt that John knows anything about the current state of Islamic culture. I think John should have a look at his own conservative views to see some moral bankruptcy.

I confess to some unease about the attitudes to women expressed by some Muslims, even some of the so-called moderate ones. Perhaps we do need to set some criteria about who we should encourage to migrate here. If you don't approve of women being free to dress, say and do what they want (within the law, of course) then perhaps this ain't the country for you. (However, women from such repressive countries who want to leave, perhaps should be welcomed with open arms.)
But such a criteria should not be racially, culturally or religiously based. Each applicant should be judged on their individual merits and part of that merit might include attitudes to women, freedom of speech, democracy and, of course, other groups in the community. Just as we don't want to import fundamentalism or sexist views from Islamic countries, so we also do not want to import white racism from South Africa. I differ with John Stone in that I don't think all adherents of a particular religion can be tarred with the same brush. What is so hard about using individual merit?
What is Mr Stone's attitude to the prevalance of generously govt funded faith based schools in Australia? Is this tendency to put like with like a good thing for our cohesion as a society or not? Removing funding from such schools and promoting our secular public schools could be a really practical and achievable way to avoid the ghettoisation of various groups and beliefs. Funny how no-one ever suggests it though, perhaps because it would effect Christian schools as much as Muslim.....

A lot of this article sounds very like the bad old days of the White Australia Policy.

I feel a stronger committment from our government to language and culture classes for new arrivals would be much more useful than something like 'oh if you dont speak english you cannot come'. How silly.

FANTASTIC ARTICLE JOHN. YOU HAVE HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD. Critics of multiculturalism are hard to find, and judging by some of the comments posted, no wonder.

Name one politician sitting in Australian parliament who is asking the hard questions on multiculturalism. There is not a single voice questioning multiculturalism. All politicans are in chorus about how wonderful it is, yet out on the street, multiculturalism is widely considered a joke.

Bullying, name-calling and aggression is what holds multiculturalism together, which says a lot about the people who promote it. Most multiculturalists are enthusiastic about the decline of western civilisation. [Deleted for swearing. Poster suspended for 24 hours]

Multiculturalism does NOT define a nation. It assumes that the country has no culture worth valuing. It assumes that everyone is happy to be part of a faceless mass and happy to be mindless consumers.

Immigration should indeed be tighter, because people will respect their citizenship much more. Untill Islam undergoes some kind of renaissance, islamic immigration should stop.

I'd expect nothing less from John Stone. I'd make more comment but it seems that the hyenas have got here before me and are joyfully celebrating the kill. I’ve heard these songs of joy before, same chorus, same tune, same monotones.