PRIME Minister John Howard has defended Treasurer Peter Costello's comments about Islamic extremism that have angered the Muslim community.
| But then, most things anger the Muslim community, don't they? I do hope the U.S. administration is watching Australia, though. They could learn something... |
 In a speech to the Sydney Institute last night, Mr Costello said anyone not prepared to accept Australian values, and who had citizenship of another country, should not remain an Australian citizen.
| "Y'don't like it? Piss off!" |
He said anyone who believed Islamic sharia law could co-exist with Australian law should move to a country where they felt more comfortable. Muslim leaders hit back today, calling on Mr Howard to censure Mr Costello over his remarks.
But Mr Howard told Southern Cross Broadcasting the Treasurer's comments were similar to some of his own and Mr Costello should not be censured. Asked why not, Mr Howard said: "Because what he said was fundamentally accurate."
| But... but... That's never been an excuse before has it? |
"He's not trying to stir up hostilities with Islamic people any more than I was when I made some comments three days before the Cronulla riots," he said. "I made some comments to the effect that there was a section of the Islamic community, because of its extreme views and its rejection of the fundamentals of our society that posed a problem. I also expressed a concern about the attitude of some, I stress some, in the Islamic community towards women. I thought both those statements were perfectly acceptable."
| "Unless you're fond of wearing a turban, of course..." |
Mr Howard refused to be drawn on whether those who advocated sharia law – society run according to a fundamentalist interpretation of Islamic teaching – should leave the country. "I think what Peter was doing was to make the point that a belief in that would be inconsistent with Australian values," he said. Mr Howard said he supported multiculturalism if it meant simply showing respect and tolerance for other people's cultures. But he said Australia could not have a federation of cultures. "Over the years at its zenith the more zealous multiculturalism base said that this country should be a federation of cultures," he said. "You can have a nation where a whole variety of cultures constantly influence and mould and change and blend in with the mainstream culture."
| Howard believes in the melting pot, which any good multiculturalist will tell you simply doesn't work. The fact that it did work and that it continues to work all around them won't change that opinion. |
Mr Howard said Australia had a core culture as an offshoot of western civilisation with a heavily Anglo-Saxon identity and Christianity as the great moral shaping force.
| "And we'll be happy to keep it, thankew very much." |
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