Australian lawmaker for debate on Muslim immigration

SYDNEY - Member of Parliament Kevin Andrews Thursday called for a national debate on whether Muslim immigration to Australia should be curbed.

Andrews, immigration minister in the conservative government defeated two years ago, said Muslims were the first migrant group not to assimilate and to congregate in certain suburbs of big cities.

“To have a concentration of one ethnic or one particular group that remains in an enclave for a long period of time is not good,” Andrews told local radio. “You should be able to talk about it… it’s ridiculous if you can’t talk about any subject.”

Andrews was commenting on a column in The Australian newspaper arguing that large numbers of Muslim migrants posed a security risk because some would be drawn to terrorism.

Andrews’ call for debate was immediately stomped on by Greens leader Bob Brown.

“We are seeing a far-right, pretty disgusting point of view,” he said.

The 350,000 Muslims in Australia represent less than 2 percent of the population but the proportion is rising through immigration and through their higher birth rate.