The author said: "No one enjoys sitting in queues or shopping and not being able to communicate with other people."

That's why there are so many shops that have only non-English signage.

Re citizenship, personally I wouldn't consider trying to become a citizen of another country without first learning that country's offical language. However the reasons for people wanting to change their citizenship obviously vary greatly, so they might not share that view.

The important thing to remember is migration and migrant histories are similar around the world.

Three main stages

Stage One, arrived into new nation with poor local language skills, struggling, working to ensure they survive with changed world around them, with memories of old nation.

Stage Two, born into or growing up in new nation, acquired new nation language and cultural skills whilst retaining language and cultural skills of old nation; Often a mish mash of both languages and cultures whatever values as they grow they feel relevant to or as beneficial for their desired lives. This stage/generation understands can be difficult adapting to new nation from own changing value conflicts with their parents.

Stage Three, children of Stage Two parents, are often fully adapted seen as part of new nation and culture. From this comfort they may look back with interest to where their family may came from.

Of course this is a simplification, and for some it takes a few extra generations. The key is the integration and mixing with other people with other values and the developing of tolerance for other people with other values.

Not so long ago being Catholic or Protestant were perceived by many as gaps wider than being Italian or Irish.

For some who have generation antescedants this journey began with arrival of western society.

Time cures all ills, developing tolerance is the medicine.

Howard's policy of re-introducing an English language based skills test is desired. After all, it's not as if they are rushed into the language and as the English language is the most spoken language, there is no shortage of language courses availalbe.

Last time I was at the Sydney Domestic Airport, I found a McDonalds store where not one employee could speak any language but Mandarin. As for immigrants want to learn english, an amazing amount of long time residents still can't speak English. Or so they say.

Immigration needs many changes and that requires an abolition of multiculturalism and having a policy of intergration. Too many cases of white Australians being refused service in Asian run stores in Cabramatta to name just one place.

I remember going to an Asian restaurant with a couple I am friends with was interesting. One of the workers told me to leave the store as they only serve Asians. Now, imagine if I said, we only serve whites here.

When I was about to stand up and give this mug some lip including directions back to his mud pit back in China, my Cantonese mate spoke to him quickly and amazingly, I was allowed to stay.

Australia needs fixed by outlawing this racial tribalism and that includes the need for making English a compulsory known language.

I just read a comment saying that Australian values and culture is not fixed. This is an arguement I am tired with as if I were to say...let's Australianise the cultures of China, Japan, Russia, Turkey, etc for their culture is always up for change, I would be attacked for being racist by these very same people.

Our culture is NOT up for change as you so like. If you like to change your lifestyle to that of another country, then pack your bag and scram. Nobody is stopping you.

It is important that a migrant can speak and understand basic English, spoken and written, to be able to live in this country for their own good and for the good of other Aussie citizens as well.

In principle a test might be a good idea as long as it is fair and tests relevant things and the standard of English ability required is at an appropriate level (ie primary school). I'd want to see the test before i passed judgement on that.

Belly
exactly mate "refusal to tackle the real issue"

One reason for this may be out signatory status on UN conventions.

I often refer to this.. we need to REVIEW our signatory status and ADD PROVISO'S or conditions or exclusions which are in our national interest.

If I had a dollar for every time Bob Brown whined about 'Australia has international obligations based on our UN signatory status' I'd be rich. So.. yes.. lets tackle the REAL issue quickly and decisively.

Then we can be selective in our immigration and stop mucking around so much with 'indirect' immigration policy via such stringent english tests.

Being Christian does not me have less common sense though. To me its as plain as sunrise in february. If we act early, then we don't have the problem of what to do with fundamentally incompatible cultural intrusion.

-Sheikh Bilal Phillips .. guest speaker at the Islamic conference over Easter coming up is a Salafi, (Like Wahabi) and is reported to have said it is fine for old men (like 50+) to marry 9 yr old girls because Mohammad did it.

-He actually says (as opposed to is reported to have said) on his web site that he now believes that taking all photographs is HARAM. (noCANdo)

He will have to speak to me about that, because if I'm there and see him I'll be taking his photograph as a statement of political liberty and freedom in the land. I'll also be asking why the Quran CURSES Christians (and Jews) and begs Allah to destroy us. (Surah 9:30) and why MOhammed also CURSES Christians repeatedly on his death bed.

Those 2 things far outweigh any 'nice' things said about people of the book in Islam.

Fred Nile says: "NO MORE MUSLIM IMMIGRATION" Why ? because the community is being fed, nurtured, built up by such people as Phillips who have disgusting and predatory views on female children which are against our laws and culture. While some may incline away from such teaching, it remains that such people are regarded as 'guides'.