I'm surprised nobody has already started this thread before me given that this is such a current and delicate issue in modern politics. Before i say anything though i request that people refrain from making racist, offensive or discriminatory statements.
With the PM's decision to bring Asian migrants to Australia to work in the WA mines we have seen the resurfacing of the age old cries of unionists and conservatives alike fearing the threat these migrants might pose to Australian jobs and employment opportunities alike. It seems a vast majority of Australians are quick to go up in arms about this supposed threat without taking into account the reluctance of much of the unemployed east-coasters to move to WA and take up mining jobs.
This comes at a time in which one of Australia's central political issues of the day (weather it deserves to be or otherwise) is the 'crisis' of illegal refugees. Since the 90s we have seen the development of hysteria within the community intensified my dramatic claims as in the 'children overboard affair' which proved itself to be false entirely. Breeding from this fear we have seen the increase in policies such as the oppositions (and lets face it - future governments) central policy to "stop the boats" as well as the questionable 'Malaysia solution' despite the law which makes it explicitly clear that migrants can only be deported to a nation which has and maintains a basic standard of refugee treatment (Malaysia does not). Australia ranks 46th in the annual refugee intake despite its national prosperity. We are also the only nation to force mandatory detention on refugees irrespective of age unconcerned of the questionable ethical standards behind this.
I appreciate that it is only human to fear the 'unknown', but have we taken it too far? If we're a nation that's willing to compromise both its economic welfare and its intrinsic social and ethical principles of human rights then where do we draw the line? Do we really even have a line? How far can we be manipulated before we realize it (if at all)?
With the PM's decision to bring Asian migrants to Australia to work in the WA mines we have seen the resurfacing of the age old cries of unionists and conservatives alike fearing the threat these migrants might pose to Australian jobs and employment opportunities alike. It seems a vast majority of Australians are quick to go up in arms about this supposed threat without taking into account the reluctance of much of the unemployed east-coasters to move to WA and take up mining jobs.
This comes at a time in which one of Australia's central political issues of the day (weather it deserves to be or otherwise) is the 'crisis' of illegal refugees. Since the 90s we have seen the development of hysteria within the community intensified my dramatic claims as in the 'children overboard affair' which proved itself to be false entirely. Breeding from this fear we have seen the increase in policies such as the oppositions (and lets face it - future governments) central policy to "stop the boats" as well as the questionable 'Malaysia solution' despite the law which makes it explicitly clear that migrants can only be deported to a nation which has and maintains a basic standard of refugee treatment (Malaysia does not). Australia ranks 46th in the annual refugee intake despite its national prosperity. We are also the only nation to force mandatory detention on refugees irrespective of age unconcerned of the questionable ethical standards behind this.
I appreciate that it is only human to fear the 'unknown', but have we taken it too far? If we're a nation that's willing to compromise both its economic welfare and its intrinsic social and ethical principles of human rights then where do we draw the line? Do we really even have a line? How far can we be manipulated before we realize it (if at all)?
