CANBERRA, February 14, 2006 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – Australian politicians and Muslim leaders denounced Tuesday, February 14, comments made by a lawmaker who warned that Australia could turn into a Muslim nation in 50 years' time.

"It will foster religious intolerance and misunderstanding…," Reuters quoted Labor politician Kelvin Thomson as saying.

"… and what we need in this country -- and what we badly need throughout the world -- is better religious understanding and tolerance."

Former veterans affairs minister Danna Vale said that Australia could become a Muslim nation within 50 years because "we are aborting ourselves almost out of existence".

"…When you actually look at the birth rates and you look at the fact that we (non-Muslims) are aborting ourselves almost out of existence by 100,000 abortions every year," Vale told reporters late on Monday, February 13.

"You multiple that by 50 years, that's five million potential Australians we won't have here."

Lyn Allison, leader of the minority Australian Democrats, said Vale should be reprimanded by Prime Minister John Howard.

"I think the prime minister should come out and say that was ill-considered and that she ought to apologize," he said.

Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone said she was surprised by Vale's comments.

"Apart from them being completely ill-founded, that's just a complete misunderstanding of how our migration program works and where our source countries are."

She stressed that Australia in 50 years time would still be an English-speaking, multi-culturally diverse society.

"Australia will remain what it is today," she told reporters.

Muslims, estimated at 300,000, make up just 1.5 percent of Australia's 20 million people.