Seventy percent of Australians believe the country “is not a better place because of Islam.” Majorities support a ban on the veil in public places and sharia law.
25 November 2013, Melbourne – According to a recent Morgan poll conducted on behalf of Q Society of Australia Inc., the majority of Australians are clearly concerned about Islam and 70% believe Australia is not a better place because of Islam. The survey, completed in late October, found a majority (53 per cent) of Australians want full face coverings banned from public spaces and 50.2 per cent want Islamic sharia law banned all together.
Australians over 65 are most concerned with 59 per cent in this age group stating that a growing Islamic population and Islamic immigration would be bad for Australia. Mature Australians and Liberal/National voters have a significantly negative view of Islam. Notably only 15 per cent of Australians think Islam and terrorism are not related. Multicultural advocates seeking to cancel Christmas, Easter or ANZAC Day celebrations in their quest to not offend other cultures should take note that 96.5 per cent of the population disagree.
The omnibus poll conducted by Roy Morgan Research Ltd has an error margin of 4 per cent.
Q Society spokesman Mr Andrew Horwood said the poll results validate the need for new strategies and policies. While followers of most religions seem to get along well, Australian politicians must acknowledge Islam is not just another religion and the growing concern is not a fringe issue. Q Society offers a proposed Charter of Muslim Understanding, written by former Muslim scholar and sharia expert Sam Solomon as a starting point for developing strategies and policies.
The president of Q Society, Mrs Debbie Robinson, invites political leaders to address the problem with an open mind and consult with non-Muslim experts on Islam and secular ex-Muslims for guidance. Mrs Robinson points out that it is dishonest and counterproductive to discredit concerned Australians as ‘racists’ or ‘islamophobic’.
Australians are not alone as millions of Europeans are faced with similar problems. Muslim mass immigration and multiculturalism began in Europe two decades before the Whitlam government started the multicultural experiment in Australia. Polls in the Netherlands indicate the openly Islam-critical PVV will be the strongest party in the next elections to the parliament in Den Hague with PVV’s parliamentary leader Geert Wilders MP most likely the next Prime Minister. Mr Wilders visited Australia in February 2013 following an invitation from Q Society. He spoke in Melbourne and Sydney at sold-out events.
Further references:
Download full survey: http://www.qsociety.org.au/downloads/QSoc_Morgan_Poll_Islam.pdf
Dutch aggregated poll results: http://www.allepeilingen.com/
Q Society website: http://www.qsociety.org.au