Yes, this did happen, and it was a couple of months ago. Things have moved on since then, the latest
"Outrageous" comments by our PM have provoked a storm. What did he say this time? Well, he had the audacity to suggest that "Any immigrants to this country, particularly the Islamic community, should endeavor to integrate into the wider community and LEARN ENGLISH". This was seen as a PARTICULARLY INFLAMMATORY ATTACK by the Islamic community and was likely to incite rioting similar to that seen last year in Cronulla.
Maybe those comments could have exposed some sensitivity from the Islamic community (the Grand Mufti of Australia has only limited english skills, and this could have been viewed as a personal attack), but it is not the only immigrant community to live in enclaves where natives languages and cultures are preferred. Australia (Particularly the largest cities of Sydney and Melbourne) has many suburbs where Vietnamese, Korean, Lebanese, Sudanese and Pacific Islanders are the predominant population. For more than 50 years we have had Greek and Italian communities which have bonded together (and now provide some of the most valued restaurants and coffee shops!), and we have had Chinatowns since the 1850's Goldrush. Not all Muslims are finding integration with the wider community too difficult. Afghan Muslims in South Australia have lived harmoniously in Aust since the early 1900's, while Turkish Muslims have been here since the 1950's. All of these communities have in their own way preferred to maintain their own company and language, while blending in with wider mainstream, generally without too much trauma. It is, however , one thing to prefer your own community while recognising the wider society, and another again to practice your culture while vigorously denouncing western values and attacking the country you choose to live in. It was perhaps unfair to specifically blame Muslims for their insularity, however, it was something of an overreaction to predict riots on the streets.
This issue is treated with some astonishment around Australia as the majority of Australians do not regularly see too many Muslims in the street or workplace to exchange views on many subjects. The majority of commentary by and from Australian Muslims seem to come from media spokesmen and lobbyists who are railing against some latest injustice. If the Average non-Muslim Australian were able to share a discussion with an average Muslim Australian, it would dispel much mistrust and animosity on both sides. In round numbers, Australia has a population of 21 Million and
the last Census gave a figure of 281,000 practising Muslims in Aust, with 120,000 living in Sydney. According to that Census, over 75% of Muslims do speak English well.