Post by lennie on Mar 11, 2007 6:53:25 GMT -5
Muslim immigration row envelops NSW election
from ABC Online
The New South Wales election campaign has been drawn into a debate about immigration after the Christian Democrats leader Fred Nile called for a decade long halt to Muslim arrivals in Australia.
State Premier Morris Iemma avoided questions about whether he would continue to work with the Christian Democrats if re-elected while addressing a small crowd while on the campaign trail.
Reverend Nile earlier argued that there has been no study of the impact of Muslims in Australia and there needs to be some breathing space.
"It would be best if we had a moratorium on Muslim immigration into Australia as I have suggested for 10 years," he said.
But Mr Iemma says he opposes the idea.
"I don't agree with those statements, I don't see what the connection is with the state government," he said.
Meanwhile, opposition leader Peter Debnam says Reverend Nile can debate the issue if he wants, but he is not focussed on it.
"I'm dealing with the issues where I can make a real difference to the people of New South Wales," he said.
But Mr Debnam would not comment on whether the coalition would agree to preference deals with the party.
from ABC Online
The New South Wales election campaign has been drawn into a debate about immigration after the Christian Democrats leader Fred Nile called for a decade long halt to Muslim arrivals in Australia.
State Premier Morris Iemma avoided questions about whether he would continue to work with the Christian Democrats if re-elected while addressing a small crowd while on the campaign trail.
Reverend Nile earlier argued that there has been no study of the impact of Muslims in Australia and there needs to be some breathing space.
"It would be best if we had a moratorium on Muslim immigration into Australia as I have suggested for 10 years," he said.
But Mr Iemma says he opposes the idea.
"I don't agree with those statements, I don't see what the connection is with the state government," he said.
Meanwhile, opposition leader Peter Debnam says Reverend Nile can debate the issue if he wants, but he is not focussed on it.
"I'm dealing with the issues where I can make a real difference to the people of New South Wales," he said.
But Mr Debnam would not comment on whether the coalition would agree to preference deals with the party.