Over the years, the narrative surrounding refugees and immigrants has become increasingly splintered, acrimonious, and spurious. The political landscape in Australia reveals this trend with events such as John Howard’s proclamation that the country will decide its own immigrants, Kevin Rudd’s 2013 assertion that Australia will not provide permanent refuge to those arriving by boat, and Tony Abbott’s election-winning campaign pledge to ‘stop the boats’ in the same year. For some political factions, this was aimed at halting the influx of perceived ‘illegal’ immigrants, while others framed it as an effort to ‘save lives at sea’. Regardless of their framing, both factions aimed to keep asylum seekers at arm’s length from the Australian community, unintentionally dehumanising them and referring to them by digits instead of their names.
Against such a backdrop, the large-scale rallies against immigration seen this weekend, involving thousands of Australians, might not seem that shocking. From a broader perspective, these protests could be interpreted as the result of years of manipulation of immigration issues for fleeting political advantage. But there’s also a possibility that the same political messaging that led us here could eventually reverse the situation.
Australia’s political discussions about immigration have not always been so harsh. After World War II, Prime Minister Ben Chifley welcomed 170,000 refugees and displaced individuals from Europe. When the first boats carrying Vietnamese asylum seekers landed on Australia’s northern shores in the 1970s, Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser advocated for their humane treatment and fair handling. There was no mandating of prolonged detention, and the newcomers were not portrayed as threatening interlopers. Language, as well as people’s lives, were treated with respect.
According to a former immigration minister in 2023, roughly seven decades back Australia embraced a migration path that has significantly shaped the nation into a vibrant and dynamic multicultural society. The transformation of Australia owes a great deal to nearly one million refugees who have arrived since World War II ended. Australians should take immense pride in this fact.
The confrontational behaviour exhibited during the anti-immigration marches recently has been aptly criticised by Australian political representatives. The federal opposition leader pointed out that while strong borders are important for security, they also permit us to extend compassion and kindness to those fleeing conflict. Similarly, the Home Affairs Minister emphatically stated that individuals who aim to disrupt and damage our social harmony have no place in the country.
On a different note, however, people’s apprehensions about how immigration might be affecting housing, cost of living, and infrastructure cannot simply be dismissed. A majority of these concerns are rooted in misinformation that supports a far-right narrative. When such misinformation propagates, it hinders evidence-based decision making and yields flawed laws and policies.
An immigration spokesman emphasises the positive influence of immigration, expressing his immense ‘respect and admiration’ for migrant and refugee groups making ‘outstanding contributions’. He advocates for a discourse around immigration that never forgets that it involves real individuals and real families.
When the Prime Minister assumed office in 2022, he emphasised the importance of a vision for Australia that fosters ‘unity and optimism, not fear and division’. After quite some time, there seems to be a bipartisan endorsement for this perspective. Nonetheless, the incongruity remains that Australia’s overarching asylum policies continue to be in operation, principally focusing on deterrence, interception, and offshore detention.
This week, the expectation is that the parliament will advance a bill that enables rapid relocation of approximately 350 non-citizens to Nauru. The High Court of Australia ruled in 2023 that indefinite detainment of individuals in immigration detention is illegal, hence, for the exorbitant initial cost of A$408 million, and an annual fee of $70 million, Australia will pay Nauru to accommodate these individuals. While this decision might conveniently solve a political issue for the government, it comes at a substantial monetary and ethical expense.
Australia’s Race Discrimination Commissioner warns us that challenges such as economic inequality, housing strain, and job insecurity are not only real but also urgent – including for individuals from immigrant backgrounds. What we need are genuine solutions, not perilous, manipulative anti-immigrant rhetoric. Unless a significant change in policy is evident, the recent wave of positive public declarations will ring hollow.
Governments hold the responsibility of assisting individuals around the globe who are in dire situations. This, however, does not necessitate turning a deaf ear to legitimate concerns about housing, infrastructure, and cost-of-living pressures. Nevertheless, it does mean making it clear that immigrants are not the source of these issues. In fact, curtailing immigration could have adverse effects.
Despite there being no evidence to suggest that immigration is causing Australia’s housing problems, there is ample evidence to show that immigrants are vital for the nation’s economic growth. This is the narrative our politicians should propagate. Some have begun to do so, but reversing years of contradicting messages is going to be a time-consuming task.
The post Australia’s Immigration Dilemma: A History of Discord and Hope appeared first on Real News Now.
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