We have been lectured on what Sharia is and is not often enough already.

At least this writer doesn’t take anything Keysar Trad says on face value, and it can already be said that Sharia law is being quietly ‘proposed’ by Muslims wanting to change Australia to suit themselves – the whole 300,000 of them against the remaining 20.7 million of us. (It’s strange how, when we express concern about Muslim immigration and presence in Australia, we are told that Muslims are only a small percentage of the population, but when it suits them, people like Mr. De Brennan say that we, like Canada, have a “substantial” population of Muslims).

Canada, surprisingly for the wettest PC country in the Western world, certainly did do the right thing by knocking the idea in the head. But the writer’s suggestion that the process was entered into without promoting “further divisiveness between Muslims and non-Muslims” is way off.

Nothing could better widen the already vast gap between Muslims and the rest of the community than even suggesting the possibility of Sharia law!

Costello was right. Muslims and other minority cultures have to start adhering to their side of the bargain and accepting Australian culture, law and values.

Differences in law for different people in the same country – including the appalling introduction of “Koori courts” – is and would be an abomination

So, Australia and Canada are similar and Canada did such and such so Australia should too.

Ummm, how about, Australia and Canada are similar and Australia doesn't do such and such so Canada obviously shouldn't too? Can the author explain why Canada are necessarily the progressives in relation to this matter? Perhaps they stuffed up, big time.

And how about all the Chinese living here, are they comfortable with Australian law, I'd imagine things are quite different in China so we really should do more to make them feel at home. And then you've go the Pacific Islanders, they probably have a more tribal based system which we need to integrate elements of too, so they don't feel left out. And there's probably a few Inuits in Australia too, and Mongolians, and what about all the Hindus and the Buddhists, and the rest, has anyone considered if they're all happy with Australian law? We need to be tolerant and change things so they're all happy.

Or, we could maintain Australia's current identity, it's norms and traditions and so forth, the things that make this a great country to live in, and tell those that think we should change for them to get the hell out. What do you think of that suggestion Mr Youth of the Roundtable?

The writer says " ... after a 1,450-year long encounter between Islam and what is now known as the West, surely it's time that we tried to understand one another."

I can accept that. But I don't see any evidence in that statement or this article of any sensible justification for such massive social change.

The Bracks government in Victoria may feel comfortable moving from preconceived ideas to foregone conclusions in implementing a Bill of Rights without educating and convincing the general population. But as much as that is angering many people, any government that moved to recognise Sharia law without mass public support would only further totally alienate Islam from mainstream Australia.

It is up to the author to show us what benefits such a fundamental change would provide for the majority of Australians. Pointing to governments flirting with traditional indigenous law as a justification ignores the realities and difficulties of such law when used, for example, to try to justify the anal rape of a young teenager by her purported husband in the Northern Territory.

Nicely written but it hasn't convinced me to start lobbying my local members for change thanks. It's long on rhetoric and fine phrases but "understanding one another" doesn't or shouldn't mean we have to give up our most deeply valued customs and legislation to satisfy an increasingly vociferous and noisy minority - not for this little black duck anyway.

Regards

Kevin

As we know we already operate under westminster law and common law. Together they're the law.

Aboriginal Australians have a special place in law for historical reasons which are of no relevance to islam or sharia today because as that religion certainly doesn't share anything but the tiniest historical connection with a tiny number of the first inhabitants. Islam is quite clearly trying to improve its market share in that community today though.

We could always introduce chicken sacrifice rituals from Aceh or penis sheathing ceremonies from PNG that would make as much sense as introducing sharia to Australians let alone Aboriginal Australia.

Seeking to alter our legal system through greater religious interference or adopting any notion of a 'dual-system' are both anathema to this character of this country and represents a form of foreign re-colonisation which, particularly given our overriding belief in church-state separation, I am sure is not desired by anyone.

Providing that each and every Australian continues to be heard under the law when it is legally necessary, any other private forms of dispute resolution that do not come into conflict with that law are fine. Community-based dispute resoltuion is not new.

I would also assert that, in line with Syrian American Dr Wafa Sultan's comments about muslims needing to work much harder today to demonstrate how they and their religion contribute good things to societies around the world. Sharia has a lot to explain and to prove first if people are to consider importing it in some form or another into a foreign and vastly different culture like ours.

"According to the treasurer, not only will Australia never observe Sharia or Islamic law, but those who wish to live under it should have no place in Australia."

I agree with the Treasurer.

Australia - like it or leave it.

at least some muslims are admitting their outrageous beliefs that australia has a place for integrating islamic law into our completely opposing system of law.

Or does this represent a situation where Muslims feel that it is time to up the stakes in thier battle for the left, perhaps they feel that the left's ignorance provides them a chance to try and gain sufficient influence to ruin our country.

Soon muslims will be happy to admit they support terrorism, as many admit these days anyway, always outside the media ofcourse. And will admit they hate our way of life and see us as less than human, as many admit already outside the media.

On what Muslims could do to promote themselves as not terrorists. For starters they could give an equal amount of charity to australian charities instead of seeing australians as unworthy of their support and giving all their money to terrorist/charity organsiations run in far off countries.