Christianity no ticket to stay: PM

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,12610560%255E1702,00.html

[The Australian] March 21, 2005--Prime Minister John Howard today denied immigration detainees were more likely to be allowed to stay in Australia if they converted to Christianity.

A Sydney newspaper today reported that 30 of Australia's longest-serving immigration detainees were having their cases reviewed and could be freed because they had converted to Christianity since arriving in the country.

But Mr Howard today denied there was a bias towards Christianity in immigration matters.