http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2006/02/23/1140670207642.html?from=rss#
Our values or go home: Costello By Josh Gordon and Jewel Topsfield, Canberra February 24, 2006 Illustration: Ron Tandberg <http://www.theage.com.au/ffximage/2006/02/23/svVALUES_narrowweb__300x308,0. jpg> Illustration: Ron Tandberg PETER Costello has lashed out at "mushy misguided multiculturalism," warning that Australian values are "not optional" - and that migrants who do not share them should be stripped of their citizenship. In a hard-hitting speech to the Sydney Institute that immediately sparked anger from Muslims, the Treasurer said migrants should be forced to honour their pledge of allegiance to Australia or face the prospect of being kicked out. In his strongest comments on the issue yet, he said anyone refusing to acknowledge the rule of law "stabs at the heart of the Australian compact". "Those who are outside this compact threaten the rights and liberties of others," Mr Costello said. "They should be refused citizenship if they apply for it. Where they have it they should be stripped of it if they are dual citizens and have some other country that recognises them as citizens." Mr Costello said the citizenship pledge should be "a big flashing warning sign" to Muslims wanting to live under sharia law. "Before entering a mosque visitors are asked to take off their shoes," Mr Costello said. "This is a sign of respect. If you have a strong objection to walking in your socks don't enter the mosque. Before becoming an Australian you will be asked to subscribe to certain values. If you have strong objection to those values don't come to Australia." His comments follow Prime Minister John Howard's claims this week that a fragment of the Islamic community is "utterly antagonistic to our kind of society". Last week Liberal backbencher Danna Vale said that Australia could become a Muslim nation within 50 years because "we are aborting ourselves almost out of existence". People will not respect citizenship that explains itself on the basis of "mushy multiculturalism," Mr Costello said. "We are more likely to engender respect by emphasising the expectation and the obligations that the great privilege of citizenship brings." Mr Costello said he had attended an Australia day citizenship ceremony at the Stonnington Town Hall in his electorate of Higgins during which a state MP "extolled the virtues of multiculturalism". He said the MP said becoming an Australian did not mean giving up one's culture or language or religion - and it certainly did not mean giving up the love of their country of birth. "The longer he went on about how important it was not to give up anything to become an Australian, the more it seemed to me that, in his view, becoming an Australian didn't seem to mean very much at all, other than getting a new passport." Islamic Council of Victoria president Malcolm Thomas said he was disappointed at Mr Costello's speech. "We have had the uninformed comments of Danna Vale, we have had the comments made by the Prime Minister and now we have these comments - all they do is reinforce a stereotype which doesn't exist." Mr Thomas said that singling out Muslims was pandering to a conspiracy that Muslims wanted to overtake Australia. "Australian Muslims are Australians first," he said. "They abide by the law and they want to live here in peace and harmony. They are not interested in taking over the country. They are not interested in creating a theocracy". Ikebal Patel, an executive member of the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils, said the comments were "inflammatory". "Islam law teaches that when you go into a country you embrace the laws of that country," Mr Patel said. "I hope we are not going away from multiculturalism as the founding stone of our immigration policy." Mr Patel said the timing of the comments smacked of an attempt by the Government to deflect attention from the AWB scandal. Islamic Friendship Association of Australia chairman Keysar Trad accused Mr Costello of making "divisive, politically opportunistic comments that do nothing but play on people's fears"."This is very poor form from the Treasurer," Mr Trad said. "It seems to be (something) we are increasingly hearing from members of the federal Liberal Government. It's most disconcerting that instead of giving a logical argument they would resort to fear-mongering." Mr Trad said the overwhelming feeling at a national symposium at Griffith University last week was that multiculturalism was the best thing for Australia and any country. Mr Costello said Muslims who did not like the depiction of the Prophet Muhammad in newspapers should recognise this does not justify violence. He said he did not like "putrid representations" such as Andres Serrano's controversial work, Piss Christ (showing an image of Christ immersed in urine), but recognised that art galleries should be able to practise their "offensive taste" without fear of violence or a riot. World Vision chief executive Tim Costello praised his brother for raising the debate about multiculturalism. "I think there should be a debate because it's complex," he said. "Should people from countries who practise female genital mutilation or bigamy and say it's part of their cultural or religious beliefs be allowed to do so here? I would say no, they have consented to our laws by coming here. I think Peter is right in that fact." [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] -------------------------- Want to discuss this topic? 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