We wonder how many Muslims are living in the Division of Paterson. Thousands? Millions?
According to the 2001 ABS figures updated in 2003, the number of Muslims in the Hunter region which roughly corresponds to the Division of Paterson is 985. Let’s assume around half are women. Most of those women live in metropolitan Newcastle/Lake Macquarie. Only a small part of metropolitan Newcastle is in Paterson.
Assuming that based on a proportion of figures for areas of Sydney with a high Muslim population maybe half a dozen of those wear face covering (not “burqas”) we are talking about SIX WOMEN.
Assuming that these women probably live in Newcastle rather than in the rural and coastal areas which make up Paterson we are looking at NO WOMEN.
So old Bob is fired up against something which does not exist. Then again he is a believer…
CHRISTIAN VALUES: Rise Up Australia Party candidate Bob Holz says the party is not against Muslims but believes the same standards must be applied to all Australians.
Rise Up Australia Party’s controversial policy to ban the burqa is gaining momentum, Paterson electorate candidate Bob Holz said.
Mr Holz said there is a lot of support for the face veil to be banned in public places to “keep Australia Australia” but he emphasised this did not include a religious head scarf or a wedding veil.
He supports the policy because Australians living overseas have to abide by the culture of the land and he believes the same standards should be applied here.
“We are not against the Muslim people, we love them, but this is our country and this is our law,” he said.
The party would also implement a national school chaplaincy program in government schools which Mr Holz said would help children rekindle the Christian values the country was founded upon.
He said the program would help re-establish the respect young people should have for each other and the community.
