Muslims who want to live under Islamic Sharia law were told on Wednesday to get out of Australia, as the government targeted radicals in a bid to head off potential terror attacks.

A day after a group of mainstream Muslim leaders pledged loyalty to Australia and her Queen at a special meeting with Prime Minister John Howard, he and his Ministers made it clear that extremists would face a crackdown. Treasurer Peter Costello, seen as heir apparent to Howard, hinted that some radical clerics could be asked to leave the country if they did not accept that Australia was a secular state, and its laws were made by parliament. "If those are not your values, if you want a country which has Sharia law or a theocratic state, then Australia is not for you", he said on National Television.

"I'd be saying to clerics who are teaching that there are two laws governing people in Australia: one the Australian law and another Islamic law that is false. If you can't agree with parliamentary law, independent courts, democracy, and would prefer Sharia law and have the opportunity to go to another country, which practices it, perhaps, then, that's a better option", Costello said.

Asked whether he meant radical clerics would be forced to leave, he said those with dual citizenship could possibly be asked to move to the other country. Education Minister Brendan Nelson later told reporters that Muslims who did not want to accept local values should "clear off. Basically people who don't want to be Australians, and who don't want, to live by Australian values and understand them, well then, they can basically clear off", he said.

Separately, Howard angered some Australian Muslims on Wednesday by saying he supported spy agencies monitoring the nation's mosques.
Quote: "IMMIGRANTS, NOT AUSTRALIANS, MUST ADAPT. Take It Or Leave It. I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we are offending some individual or their culture. Since the terrorist attacks on Bali, we have experienced a surge in patriotism by the majority of Australians."

"However, the dust from the attacks had barely settled when the 'politically correct' crowd began complaining about the possibility that our patriotism was offending others. I am not against immigration, nor do I hold a grudge against anyone who is seeking a better life by coming to Australia." "However, there are a few things that those who have recently come to our country, and apparently some born here, need to understand." "This idea of Australia being a multi-cultural community has served only to dilute our sovereignty and our national identity. And as Australians, we have our own culture, our own society, our own language and our own lifestyle."
"This culture has been developed over two centuries of struggles, trials and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom"

"We speak mainly ENGLISH, not Spanish, Lebanese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language. Therefore, if you wish to become part of our society .. Learn the language!"
"Most Australians believe in God. This is not some Christian, right wing, political push, but a fact, because Christian men and women, on Christian principles, founded this nation, and this is clearly documented. It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools. If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as your new home, because God is part of our culture."

"We will accept your beliefs, and will not question why. All we ask is that you accept ours, and live in harmony and peaceful enjoyment with us."

"If the Southern Cross offends you, or you don't like "A Fair Go", then you should seriously consider a move to another part of this planet. We are happy with our culture and have no desire to change, and we really don't care how you did things where you came from. By all means, keep your culture, but do not force it on others.

"This is OUR COUNTRY, OUR LAND, and OUR LIFESTYLE, and we will allow you every opportunity to enjoy all this. But once you are done complaining, whining, and griping about Our Flag, Our Pledge, Our Christian beliefs, or Our Way of Life, I highly encourage you take advantage of one other great Australian freedom,
'THE RIGHT TO LEAVE'."

"If you aren't happy here then LEAVE. We didn't force you to come here. You asked to be here. So accept the country YOU accepted."

Interesting post, Deane. I don't expect our leaders to have the same courage as our Australian friends.

I wonder what Crocodile Dundee would say. Maybe a line from one of his films whilst being accosted by would-be muggers:

"You call that a knife? That's not a knife. Now this [whips out huge bowie-type knife]....is a knife"

Herb

Well, yeah ... where America's concerned, whether you think that Mohammed's quotes or Jesus's quotes need to be substituted for the Constitution ... you may as well move on and live elsewhere.

"I wonder what Crocodile Dundee would say"

Yes, because when pondering the greatest Australians that ever lived, and looking to their wisdom for guidance and inspiration, one would automatically look back to the venerated, leathery and wholly fictional Crocodile Dundee.

Who by the way, moved to Los Angeles by the third movie.

I'm gonna go google Yahoo Serious and see if I can pull out any nuggets of truth from the dialog in "Young Einstein." and with Yahoo and Dundee in my pocket, this world can be a better place. How could I go wrong applying such mountains of intellectualism to a political perspective? If only more critical thinkers were inspired by Crocodile Dundee, what a world this could be.

you're a fucking idiot, Herb.

Agree with: Secular State, laws made by Parlement.

Nicely done and well expressed.

The US is the same, you know.

Religious freedom is exactly what allows the many Christians to live their beliefs here and there. All good.

The statement that they are a Christian Nation, founded, etc... is significant, but not so well expressed in that piece. Those Christians, like ours, crafted a government where it's members were free to worship.

This does not make their belief the authority, but one that supports the government as it exists today.

Again, same for us.

The real issue is the other religous groups claiming a higher authority over the laws of man there. Appears the Aussies won't have that, and good on them for expressing it.

The latter part of the piece breaks down though. If the government is secular and it's citizens are bound to follow parlementary law, then they are multi-cultural, just as we are here.

It's hypocritical to say, "we christians have claimed this free place as our own", yet use the very freedom they leveraged to their advantage as a reason for others to conform.

If their beliefs stand on their own merits, they've got no worries with a secular government. If they don't, eventually they will change and adapt as the times demand.

We have the same construct here, with the same implications; namely, all people live under the law period. That message came through loud and clear and I support that.

The rest is a bunch of chest thumping that really devalues the initial strong statements made in the beginning.

The difference between Aussie and the US is that we have a clearly defined secular government with seperation of church and state mandated by law. They have a nominally christian government, with the Anglican/CofE church the "official" state religion. True that they have defacto religious freedom, just like they have defacto democracy, but "technically" the Queen and the church are still in charge. Not so here.

Didn't know that.

Well, they are closer than a lot of nations. I do respect them being able to state it how it is.

>>>"but "technically" the Queen and the church are still in charge. Not so here."


We may at least have the Queen in charge after the 2008 elections.

aw crikey!

"We may at least have the Queen in charge after the 2008 elections."

Another vote for Rudy.

"We may at least have the Queen in charge after the 2008 elections."

I did not think Al Gore was running for office?

That would Tipper the balance of power hardy har har.

Australians are not awful people, but since they have roots in the prisons of the English empire, I tend to take a few of those ideas with a grain of salt. Much as I would love to tell every hater who hides in the sanctuary that he has to leave our land, I can not, and that is both a blessing and a curse. Islam does not kill people. People kill people. It took a while, but Catholics get better publicity these days too. Terrorism and the Crusades are practically one and the same.

Well said Littlesongs.

I lived in Australia for 6 months. Went to school, played their sports, and fell in love with the people. Certainly the world has changed since those days and it's sad that this sort of statement even has to be said.

Chris, I am a bit of an antipodeanophile. (I think I just made up a word.) I am very partial to New Zealand's pop music scene. I have been an SWL for years and follow politics and whatnot in Oceania. Perth's "6WF Statewide" was one of my favorites when I was a kid. They took a music request by postcard with my QSL report. Gotta love it.

If the Aussies don't want to keep coming off like inbred bayou hicks who've swapped gators for crocs, they really have got to control some of their loudest voices. Between Murdoch, the racist thugs on the beach and this idiot, they really look bad right now. Fear sells, but it never binds a culture or a country. Alienation always leads to more violence.

I bet the Aboriginal people would love to have all those f*ck*rs gone, every color, every faith, every last one of them. :0)

Littlesongs.....In the early to mid 6os I too listened to 6WF Perth WA up until it was no longer carried on SW. I first would listen while getting ready for school.Loved the local news. Perth as a kid always intrigued me even more than their eastcoast. Do you recall a region that was mentioned on their news and weather called The Kimberly? Heard the signoff with God Save the Queen at 8am pst midnite in Perth. I recall I wrote to an announcer there Tim Moore and told him about myself and that I had an interest in Australia. To my surprise in the mail I received an answer from Tim's wife who wrote the letter and answered questions about Australia. they had a son named Nigel and Tim worked freelance. I loved SWLin those days. Hated school could wait to get home for more SWL. At the present time short wave IMHO isn't exciting to me everyone has gone off it plus my location has a lot of QRM But I listen a little still but thrill is not there like it was45 yrs ago. In short I did enjoy the ABC Regionals.

Daveyboy1, brings back memories, eh? Great to meet fellow SWL'er with such vivid recollections. I started in the 80s -- a relative newbie -- and before "National Radio" and all that, boy, those days were special -- even RA was fun. I remember getting a schedule and other goodies in Pidgin along with a QSL from the "Papua New Guinea Service." I miss so many of the jingles. "Uhroun' th' World an' to Yer 'Ome, It's Ray-dee-oh Oz-trail-yah." Dang, I need to recap my NC-60B. That, was a radio. :0)

(quick add -- the Kimberly: http://www.kimberleyaustralia.com/)

I Think maybe early nineties I forget exactly when, but Australia had a PM named Mr Peacock I think I did an interview with the wife of the mayor of Christchurch NZ.This was in conjunction with the Seattle Sister Cities ASSO. Lady Hey was who she was called. Very proper like the Queen Mum I thought. In photos Christchurch looks inviting. That part of the world would seem less frantic. Perth I've heard looks like a town out the 1950s US. Anyone been there and did you learn to drive on the left and what was that like? What about Christmas in the summer have any of you been there for it? Interesting place.