Butch, as an atheists I condemn the perverse aspects of all religions including Islam and Christianity, their track record speaks for itself. On balance all religions are a negative for society, a mosque in Huntsville, or a church in Jerusalem, all based on superstitious nonsense. This mosque is only the outward sign, other that the practical problems in itself as a building, it presents no more of a harm than a new pub would in the area.
Religion gives people a focal point, and no matter how much the moderates within denounce the extremists, as not being "us", they are always, by default, associated with that extreme element, as they are part of the same organisation, with its flawed teachings and superstitions.

Paul,

By what Book would the pub be run?
Would it encourage the enslavement of non-drinkers if they didn't convert to alcoholic beverages?

Is Mise, as an ex-copper, you should realise pubs are often a focal point for "trouble" in the community. The excessive consumption of alcohol being a contributing factor to violence and other antisocial behavior, including road carnage. The community has genuine concerns about the building of this mosque in Hurstville, and those peoples concerns need to be addressed.
I do not seek to justify Islam, as I said, I oppose all organised religions on the grounds that, not only are they based mostly on nonsense and superstition, but they are down right harmful. However the religious nutters of all persuasions will tell you otherwise.

Paul 1405
Most Muslims take their faith about as seriously as most Christians, Mosques are only ever full on two days a year, Eid and the Prophet's birthday.
The only people who attend the Mosque five times a day are the unemployed, the elderly or religious nuts who live off a combination of welfare and charity.
Paul given that there is no data available on the criminal trends among migrants or their economic performance can you blame residents for being concerned about an influx of people who, anecdotally have the worst of reputations?
The bad reputation of Muslims is not undeserved, I've seen gross acts of violence, intimidation and intolerance on their part with my own eyes, the difference between their offending and that of Whites is that in something like 80% of cases White violence is accompanied by intoxication by alchohol or drugs, teetotalling Arabs, Africans and West Asians are on a hair trigger all the time.
Arabs, Africans and West Asians are biologically different not only to each other but to the larger ethnic groups in Australian society, the structure of their brains, their hormone levels, their low cognitive abilities are easily explained by the latest scientific research into genetics.
The Muslim faith is merely a system of living devised by seventh century Arab chieftans to control irrational, violent, low IQ men and to unite them in order to plunder other civilisations. When the plunder runs out, Islam withers away as it has in Iran where only an estimated 2% of people attend Friday prayers.
If the Australian government stopped supporting and promoting Islam it'd fade away in this country too and be nothing but an eccentric, irrelevant and innocuous pastime for a small handful of people.
The Australian government spends literally billons every year bringing in Islamic migrants,promoting the Islamic faith and setting up well funded interfaith and Anti Racism groups to defend the programme, there may be a separation of church and state but there's no separation of religion and state.
As an atheist and a Socialist how does this sit with you?

I don't know about Paul, Jay of Melbourne, but I don't think I have ever read such an obviously racist rant before on this forum.
What has skin colour got to do with this debate? Why are you obsessed with 'white' people? Where do you stand on white Muslims?

For a start, I am sure our Government does not 'promote' Islam, quite the opposite I would suggest. Any building of religious structures should be totally funded by that religion, and not have anything to do with the government at all.

All religious organizations should not get one cent from the government for anything at all. If a religious group wants to do 'good deeds' for others then they should not expect monetary rewards, as surely their God will repay them?

South Hurstville Muslims should be able to have a Mosque built there if all other religions already have their own structures built there. That is only fair in a multicultural country like Australia. Personally, I think community halls used by anyone should be enough space for religious gatherings, without special buildings needed to worship unproved gods.

I think you're all asking the wrong questions

To what degree is Saudi Arabia funding the building of Mosques and other funding partnerships like Universities and how is this contributing to the rise of 'Wahhabism' in Australia?

Why are our elected leaders allowing this things to occur whilst also playing down the threat of radical Islam?

- Is their some kind of arrangement with Saudi Arabia?