Immigration policy and the federal election
Peter Dutton is desperate to talk about immigration during the current election campaign. That will largely be about pointing fingers at Labor, sometimes misleading fingers as he did during his budget reply and not providing details of his own policies.
Recent articles in Immigration
Four key myths that manufacture an immigration 'crisis'
A so-called Australian immigration crisis is a central election issue, but it's based on misconceptions easily debunked by any examination of the evidence.
Devaluing Australian citizenship
Public commentary on Peter Dutton’s possible referendum on a ministerial discretion to deprive dual nationals of their Australian citizenship has focused on whether or not this is just a thought bubble and whether or not it is politically wise to be holding yet another referendum. The real issue goes much deeper, to the merits of the proposal. Ministerial powers to remove Australian citizenship fundamentally devalue it. Dual nationals are the biggest losers.
Australian immigration and the federal election
The Albanese Government has done a reasonable job in repairing the immigration train wreck it inherited from the Coalition. However, excessive caution and fear of being wedged has severely limited its achievements. In the forthcoming election, the Dutton Opposition can be expected to be short on policy, but to stoke up fears about border security and foreigners. He will borrow from the nasty Trump playbook when convenient. Australia deserves better immigration policy and administration.
Denigrating refugees: Media Watch is no exception
Australian citizens and residents who originally came to this country seeking asylum, as they are clearly entitled to do under international law, have been in the news recently, through no fault of their own and not in a good way. Sections of the media and some politicians have attacked them for doing what all citizens and residents have a right to do, that is to bring their partners and close relatives to Australia.
A Home For M
Grassroots support can help many refugees find their feet. Working with very stretched organisations to support refugees. Safety is a primary concern.
European deportation of Syrian refugees - a sign of the times
Millions of Myanmar refugees could be next if Junta falls
Offshore people dumping by a spooked government
The Albanese Labor Government has been spooked by recent High Court decisions which protect the human rights of non-citizens who cannot be returned to their home country because they are owed protection obligations.
Barn of Broken Doors: Nauru poet deplores offshore detention
Mohammed Salamat delivered this anguished poem about his detention on Nauru outside Federal Parliament last Tuesday November 19, 2024. The reality of offshore processing by the Australian government is still very much a fact, in legislation and the news.
The elephant in the room: the refugee status determination process
Having befriended and worked closely with many Asylum Seekers for the pasts 14 years I have no hesitation in highlighting a key problem with the recent Migration Bill changes. It is the uncritical assumption that the refugee status determination process is professional and fair and sensitive to changing realities. That assumption is simply not true.
Dark day for humanity as Australia chooses cruelty in Migration Bill changes
Refugee and refugee support groups Australia-wide are deeply concerned about the extremely damaging implications of Australias new migration laws which are founded on principles of punishment rather than human rights protection.
Why oppose the latest deportation and surveillance Bill proposal
The imminent bill must not be passed.
Addressing harms caused by Australias response to Slavery
Chris Evans' involvement in anti-trafficking responses in the late 2000s was a heady time for the sector; John Howards ousting led many to hope migration would no longer be the political weapon of choice, human rights became important and collaboration with civil society became funded, fair and feasible.
