Tariq Ramadan is expected to speak in Australia sometime in March 2008.(http://www.griffith.edu.au/arts-languages-criminology/griffith-islamic-research-unit/news-events/the-challenges-and-opportunities-of-islam-in-the-west-the-case-of-australia)
The new Australian Labor Government's ministers for Immigration, Senator Chris Evans, and Attorney-General, Robert McCelland were asked by this writer to provide reasons why Ramadan is being allowed entry into Australia despite being disallowed entry into the US in September 2006.(see article at http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/09/25/ap/national/mainD8KC4PP80.shtml)
Both men have determined to ignore numerous requests for an answer. Emailed queries to Australian Government ministers do not usually go unanswered, and hence their silence was not expected.
Nevertheless, Attorney General McClelland has been reported saying that unlike the previous Liberal Government, Labor would adopt a more inclusive approach to the Muslim community.
(http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23111175-2702,00.html.). As mentioned before , the Labor Government is particularly dependent on the migrant vote, as was proven even in the recent election. Courting of the ethnic vote saw a previous Labor Government allow the entry of a number of Lebanese Muslims despite security concerns; the best known case being that of Sheik Al-Hilali (see http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20658333-601,00.html).
Hilali's mosque is said to be the headquarters of the Tablighi Jamaat in Sydney.( http://www.library.unsw.edu.au/~thesis/adt-NUN/uploads/approved/adt-NUN20070123.105540/public/02whole.pdf )
Meanwhile, the new Foreign Minister Stephen Smith is currently in the US explaining why Australian troops will be pulled out of Iraq.
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