Johnathon has put his spin on it, so what? Brandis was plain, the final decision is always up to the minister, that is how the system operates and the Parliament can review. So what?

You are silent on the bugger threat, which is Muslims demanding all consultation through them (the minister and parliament are not there just for Muslims to get whet they want).

Also, Muslims demanding censorship to suit their interests. Nothing to be concerned about you reckon?

Jonathon was untangling the double-speak con-artistry of Brandis.

End

One fact that seems to escape most people, Islam is not JUST a religion, it's a whole sociopolitical way of life governed by religion.
Christianity and other religions accept and usually support secular governance, "Render unto Caesar etc", whereas Islam rejects it entirely, and that fact is what underlays most of the difficulties associated with peaceful co-existence.
"Moderate" Muslims seem to be those who can adapt, retaining their religion while accepting secular governance, and good on them, they are realists, but until they are the majority and actively resist the more fundamentalist forces within their cultures we will continue to face division and destruction.
There is NO quick-fix, education is the best hope, one can see that clearly in two aspects, one, the Fundamentalists actively resist and attempt to destroy any education but their own, and two, their "education" is based almost wholly on their religion first and foremost, everything else is secondary and must conform to their fundamentalist credo to be acceptable.
The successful Muslim nations such as Indonesia are not purely Islamic, they too have adapted and provide educational structures that focus primarily on real education above religious strictures, they also have secular styles of government overlaying their Muslim society.
All religions rely on ignorance to exist, the more educated any given population the less hold religion has, that is clearly demonstrated world-wide.

Spot on, Bruce !

Otb & Foxy,

I suppose we have to be aware that the 40 % of Liberal voters in the audience of Q&A were either so subdued or gormless that they couldn't ask a single question.

Meanwhile, mass beheadings of captured soldiers in Syria and Nigeria. A terrorist attack on a synagogue in Jerusalem. What will it be today - car-bombings in Baghdad or Karachi ? More kidnappings in northern Nigeria ?

And the common factor is ...... ?

And it's all perfectly justifiable by a book.

Muslims are as intelligent, and as good or bad, as anybody else. Perhaps most of them - like most Christians - go along with the dictates and rigmaroles of their religion daily, going through the motions. But the terrorist version of Islam poses a huge problem for them, which may force an assessment of what it is about, what is 'true' Islam and what is - even when it is using the literal texts - a ghastly distortion of all that is human in Islam.

Joe

Dear ConservativeHippie,

Thanks for that.

It is appreciated and I am pleased that
you understand the points that were being
made by me. As for otb? I am no longer
interested in explaining things to him.
Nothing changes. He's on a rampage no matter
what I say or do. That's his problem. Not
mine.

Dear Poirot,

Spot on. Brandis was simply mouthing the
Party Line. Still I admired his tenacity
to face such an audience. Kudos to him for
that.

Dear O Sung Wu,

Co-operation with the Muslim Communities in
Australia may be where the answer to resolving
our problems and fears lies. It certainly is worth trying
as the head of ASIO and our PM have stated. Better
understanding of each other - may help us find
common ground.

Dear Joe (Loudmouth),

You've raised some valid points.
Thank You.

Foxy, if you wouldn't mind, I'd be interested in your assessment of my post above?