Mse,
Tribal marriages here recognised! That would not surprise me, the NT already has some aspects of aboriginal tribal law recognised and participating in some areas. So much for one nation and one law!

Pericles,
Thanks for the info about Holland, I was also unaware of that, but not surprised given the pickle that quite a few European countries are in because of poor immigration practices allowing massive introduction of alien cultures.

My contacts in UK virtually confirmed all that was in the newspaper article. Though the article was poorly written as it really did not distinguish properly what the new provisins were as against the previous situation. But it can be sorted out if one cares to look carefully.

The confusing statement i refered to was that which you posted in your first post on this thread. It is designed to play the issue down and in fact contradicts itself in saying that nothing has changed and at the end provides the information that welfare payments are now payable to additional spouses. It even gives the ammounts.

Ask yourself this. If nothing has changed and additional spouses for some migrants are NOT recognised, why then is it necessary to make provission for welfare for additional spouses?. Your 'official statement' disclosed that.

I do not oppose polygamy in itself as it seems more honest than a person having an affair, but see a lot of practical problems with it in western society. I was genuinely shocked to see that UK law now provides for polygamy, in any circumstance. It just seems to be against all our traditional history where marriage and even songs and childrens stories relate to marriage being two persons making a single unit and 'they happily everafter'

I can't help but wonder where next will western governments change our laws and standards to accomodate alien cultures.

The second last sentence of my last post should end and 'they lived happily everafter'. This relates to most trsditional plays, books, films and stories.

Where next? Will we allow for cockfights, bullfights, dogfights or downgrade honour killings from murder to manslaughter. Will we allow the eating of dogmeat. whale meat or other exotic dishes we now ban.
Will we ban bikinis and make females cover up at beaches and not disclose so much skin in public. There is ample scope for changes or do we just turn a blind eye to some alien practices, such as FGM, as we do now.

Governments should be responsible for the upkeep of our laws and standards. It should be remembered that many politicians will do almost anything if they think they can get away with it and get a few more votes.

A Trigamy of Proselytizers?

"At least two thirds of our miseries spring from
human stupidity, human malice, and those
great motivators and justifiers of malice
and stupidity, idealism, dogmatism and
proselytizing zeal on behalf of
religious or political idols."
Aldous Huxley.

I totally agree with Senator, The Hon. George Brandis SC
Shadow Attorney-General who spoke on the ABC radio,
Wed. 25th June 2008:

"I think that the idea of polygamy is something that is
so remote from Australian culture that it's not
something that any of the mainstream political parties
are going to contenance."

"That's not to be culturally insensitive to people who
may come from a cultural and faith background where,
in some parts of the world, that practice is observed.

That's simply not a custom or practice which would,
in my view, ever be acceptable in Australia."

Foxy,

A Trigamy of Proselytizers? I like it.

Banjo,

"Governments should be responsible for the upkeep of our laws and standards. It should be remembered that many politicians will do almost anything if they think they can get away with it and get a few more votes."

Yes old chap. Like you, many of us had apoplexy when a man's liberty to buy and sell slaves was abolished. Then the government made us stop employing children in our factories and mines. Put the price of employing people up something terrible. The last straw was when the government reduced our standards by giving women the vote and property rights.

I agree with you old man: politicians will do almost anything if they think they can get away with it and get a few more votes. Be a dear old thing and pass the port.

Spikey,
Looks like you are a "progressive" and welcome change including polygamy. Hey why stop there? what about incest, forced marriages, child brides and children sold off into slavery. If other cultures have, and enjoy, these in their everyday lives, Yair, why not us, we could do with more multiculturalism, look at the benefits.

Foxy,
I agree with that bloke and I hope he is right. Our old friend Keyser Trad raised the issue a few months ago. It was not well received on OLO, but it will be raised again no doubt, and the proponents will probably quote UK as a precedence.

Dear Banjo,

I've just read an editorial taken from,
The Australian, 26th June 2008.

The heading read: Polygamous 'marriage'
is not the Australian way.

The editorial argues that,

"Such marriages... would be a minefield of confusion
in relation to taxation, welfare benefits, child support,
superannuation, inheritance, divorce and
custody settlements... this would be the precise opposite
of what many Muslims want when they come to Australia.
Seeking a better way of life in some cases, liberation
from repression."