World Immigration News

Politicians have scapegoated immigration for decades. It’s time to flip the script

Release Date: 2025-09-01
Media: The Conversation
Summary: This article reviews the evolution of Australia’s immigration and refugee discourse and highlights current contradictions.

For decades, both major parties politicized asylum seekers — the Coalition portraying them as “illegals” and Labor framing harsh policies as “saving lives.” This dehumanizing rhetoric helped fuel anti-immigration rallies seen recently. In contrast, past leaders like Ben Chifley and Malcolm Fraser welcomed refugees humanely, without depicting them as threats.

Today, politicians across party lines increasingly condemn far-right extremism and emphasize the positive contributions of migrants, with calls to view immigration through empathy and unity. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese promotes a vision of inclusion, while opposition figures also stress respect for migrant communities.

Yet, Australia’s asylum system still relies on deterrence, offshore processing, and costly agreements such as sending non-citizens to Nauru, raising moral and financial concerns.

The article argues that fears about housing and cost-of-living are often based on misinformation; immigration is not the cause of these problems and is in fact vital to Australia’s economic development. To move forward, political leaders must not only speak positively but also enact real policy changes that reflect immigration’s benefits.
Tags: Australia