• Keith Kennelly, yes, whatever angle you take its helpful to rely on some current research data. This allows you to layer your perspective around what you want to say. I'd be willing to help out in your next one if you like.

• You asked Leigh “I just wondering how indigenous people feel about this statement. Did you include those people in your ‘native-born’. Hypothetically, if you and Leigh were invited to a function where you would be confronted by a room full of Indigenous people (including myself), the one who felt more uncomfortable and who would leave first is least Australian. My money would be on Leigh rudely turning down the invite.

Thanks for your article Keith. Interesting.

On the topic of Indigenous Australians, you say: "One of the "hidden" benefits is how we look at our Indigenous people. This has changed for most of us over the last 30 years. I would assert that our evolving acceptance of the diversity of immigration has heightened our awareness and acceptance of Indigenous people and their diversity".

Whilst I have recognised a shift in the perception of Indigenous people in mainstream Australia, this is not the important question. The important question should be, how has the plight of our Indigenous people changed, and has there been benefit? Lets see -Education rates remain low. Health and mortality rates are shocking. Gross over-representation in prisons and disproportionate deaths in custody', and a culture of violence continues to plague those Indigenous people who are in what I call 'limbo'. They have endured forced assimilation and now live in urban areas, and are trying desperate to reconcile that with the need to hold on to their culture, traditions and spirituality, and attempting to pass it on to the future generations.

You can see the result is places like West Dubbo, Bourke, and even Redfern.

Now recently Indigenous Australians lost their national voice – ATSIC. With allegations about its individual operation aside, no Australia can, at least in my opinion, argue against the merits of our Indigenous people having a national voice.

The system of native title remains almost impossible to navigate, when you consider the operation of the Act and the cost involved in drawn-out litigation.

Whilst I acknowledge there have been some positive developments, like circle sentencing in Dubbo and the Sth Coast, I think to say that our heightened ‘awareness & acceptance of Indigenous people’ is positive, whilst being factually true, is perhaps over simplistic and missing of the point

Summarizing, emigration is to be OK if immigrants are being kept on the verges of a “mainstream society”, not pretending on jpbs supposed for a higher race.

It is time the 1951 agreement on refugees was cancelled. The world has moved on and the refugees of today are a totally different category.
We do not need the UN interfering in our migration scheme.
No migrants should be permitted into our country unless they understand and agree to abide by Australian laws and customs.
There should also legislation that would ensure any second generation citizen who refuses to abide by Australian laws and customs, lose Australian citizenship and be liable to repatriation to where they originally came from.
We must stop the cancer of haters who have migrated here and who add nothing but strife to our land. We do not need them.

Rainier

I think jkenno's criticism fair and apt. I was simplistic but I don't think I missed his point. I simply didn't explore it. I'd enjoy and like a collaboration on expressing thoughts on that topic. Would you be interested?

Keith

Keith, Yeah, why not. Contact GY, he knows me.

jkenno, been meaning to say for a while now how much i appreciate your style and approach, too deadly, thanks bro.