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Immigrant nation : Comments
By Ross Elliott, published 23/8/2013When floating your boat, Australia's been a destination for thousands of years. So what's changed?
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Except it isn't.
It is first and foremost a nation of colonists.
Immigrants seek to work within the pre-existing culture.
Colonists intend to supplant the existing culture and people.
The "White fellas" were not immigrants. They were colonists.
>>For what it's worth, it's my view that the majority of people so desperate to get here today will, just like the waves before them, only make us a better people.>>
Do you believe the arrival of the European colonists made the Aborigines "better people"?
Ever since the "white fellas" arrived the number one priority has been to insure that they are not, in turn, colonised. To that end Australia has a SELECTIVE immigration program. It only allows in people who, so it is hoped, will prosper and contribute to the country the COLONISTS founded.
According to Dept. of Immigration statistics, outcomes for refugees from some countries - especially Afganistan - have not been good.
http://www.immi.gov.au/media/publications/research/_pdf/settlement-outcomes-new-arrivals.pdf
After 5 years the best outcomes for the "humanitarian intake" has been from Central and West Africa, 51% employed, the worst from Afghanistan, a mere 9% employed.
It looks as if most refugees from certain countries will be reliant on Centrelink benefits for the rest of their lives. I have no information about how the next generation will fare but, judging from the European experience, not well.
By all means advocate a lenient policy but be honest about the likely consequences