Steven,
Firstly,I suspect you are mistaking the houiri-dreams of a few community gray beards and the wet dreams of their far left allies with the wishes of the (whole) “Muslim” community. I do not see any grassroots push for sharia—and see below a quote from my previous link:

“In 2004 the Canadian province of Ontario was planning to impose legally binding arbitration according to Islamic law. A furious debate followed led by Muslim women who argued that they had gone to Canada to get away from sharia law and the coercion it embodied. They won, and in February 2006 religious-based arbitration was ended. (p.6)”

Secondly, talk of our near neighbours in the region being Muslim is nonsense.
Outside the (with all due disrespect to Proud to Be Indonesian!)Javanese Empire and the Bumiputera Apartheid Republic.
Our near neighbours are largely Christian: New Guinea(both free and occupied parts), Vietnam , The Philippines & China (rapidly becoming so).
Buddhist : Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos & Burma.
India: largely Hindu
(Forget Bangladesh, its a basket case)

Thirdly, I'm beginning to think this might have more to do with Stevenlmeyer wanting to play devils advocate and tease the good folk of OLO, rather than a reality check, eh ?

You might be right, SPQR, Steven might be having a lend of us :)

Australia has a legal system which does not discriminate against, or favour, any particular group on the grounds of their ethnicity, religion, gender or age - at least, that's the formal position. No group is formally discriminated against, or formally favoured.

I am happy for anybody to come to Australia and contribute to our society (theirs and mine), within that framework. I'm excited about the future contributions of Indonesians and Sudanese and Hazara and Burmese, along with those of wonderful people from Vietnam and Greece and Chile and so many other countries - but all within the framework of equality before the law, and no favours for any particular group or individual.

And, Steven, I don't know that my little hypothetical is all that irrelevant, although I certainly take your point about the pride and dignity with which Muslim women may associate the many ways that they dress. But wait and see :)

Joe

Steven,
You have it right and have put the question fairly in the courts of all OLO posters. Is increasing numbers of muslims in Aus a future problem? If so what is to be done if anything?

The more muslims that enter the country the more political influence they will have to push their cultural practices and ideals. Some may not be aware that the UK had, at least, one government Minister in their previous government that was muslim and he spoke openly about the time the UK would have a muslim PM. This is what can be achieved when a group has sufficient numbers.

Does anyone think the current submission will be the last we hear of Sharia, Keysar Trad spoke about the vitrues of polygamy a couple of years ago. Hatal products are being introduced now. On page 10, I posted about a former Nigerian President prediction for Europe.

I would advocate Stevens first option and introduce discriminatory immigration. Not just specificly muslim but ban immigration of those groups that continue to cause us grief. Like those that carry out FGM, forced marriages, bring old hatreds with them and fight each other. Those that refuse to integrate and have poor social conduct, with no respect for or laws or social standards.

Like it or not, when a group reaches sufficient numbers they do have a dramatic influence on or culture and social life.

It is not good enough to simply say 'I don't like sharia' and continue with the same immigration policies.

BANJO

I am relieved there is at least one poster here who understands that I am NOT doing a wind up.

SPQR, Loudmouth / Joe

Wake up!

ESPECIALLY in a democracy, demography IS destiny. That goes double when there is an element of proportional representation as is the case in elections for the Australian Senate.

The idea that you can import a large number of Muslims and not make SOME accommodation to Islam is RIDICULOUS!

As AMMONITE points out, we already accommodate other religious groups – especially Christianity (no gay marriage!). Do you think Muslim leaders will tolerate their agenda being ignored as the proportion of Muslims grows?

Get your heads out of the sands.

BTW BANJO I do NOT think an immigration policy that discriminates against Muslims is a viable proposition for Australia. The closest you could come is to cut back on immigration generally.

Banjo I hope you do not walk away after Stevens wet dream.
While Muslims want to change our laws, more of them coming here is mixing road gravel in the Christmas pudding.
The hate taking us closer to war than most believe,will be believed all too soon.
After that,if we are not destroyed just maybe from within the Muslim world change Will come
Ignore those links to current English feelings at you peril.
And ignore if you must,the fact is religion is dying in the west and about to smother us in the name of yet another God.
If successful we step back in to the dark ages,and women to slavery.

steven seems to be fixation
on some sort of repricosity
as being due

quote..""IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE ACCOMMDATIONS FOR ISLAM.""

mate
do we make accomindations..to aborigonal law?
[they are near half a million]

their law makes much more sense
[its taught to them by egsample and cerimony
taught them as part of who they are..and what the land is]

see they KNOW..!..*we are insepperable/from the land
[we are a part of the land
like your hand is a part of your body]

land rights and civil rights are hand in hand
[this sepperationm of law...with infinite legal 'experts'

if much like a double Geo-perdy/jeoperdy?..
for those..who honour the true*laws...[respect]

see that a traditional{AB/origonal}..people..
KNOW'S..not to poop into water
or risk being banished..

but along comes whateman[white fella]
and says if you dont poop into the water
..your a savage..

[civil sociaty it seems..enjoys pooping in your waters]

look at how the law is
we needed no jails

you were affectivly outcast
and could only join/with other outcasts
but along comes what?man..and says your black and im right

they actually used the out-casts
to initiate a cast-system

we had no leaders
we acted by concensouse
if we didnt 100% agree..it wasnt on

but whitfella he made chiefs
says you the bossman...if they dont do what YOU say
we will lock the buggarse up..[we will police..you being THEIR boss]

what use to say sharia/more important
than the good of 'the way'[the ways name is..madayain]

meaning the whole system of law..
all the law

[property..criminal/economic/resource
/political/moral/religious/skin]

which all obey..[stand under]
the laws are there..to protect the land
[thus protecting the madayin..:people..flora/fauna]

the law id symbolicly upheld by simple process
the law is recited and held over all alike

the process wana-lupthun
is actually a communal baptism
where the traditional guadian..stands at the waters edge
holding the objects encoding the law..[abouve his/her head]

while this ritual is being done
the rest submerge*themselves..under the waters

the wana-lupthun rite...
signifies that ALL*
are under

the rule/lore/law..of madayin

NO ONE
IS ABOUVE IT