From the usually smart John Hewson:
Why is it that so much of our lives is dominated by America, from fast food to the immediate release of the latest TV program, to the latest Kardashian excess? It seems that we have a massive national insecurity and sense of inferiority – if it is “good” for America, it must be “good” for Australia. The 51st state?
…The most disturbing feature, among many, of Trump’s anti-establishment strategy is the nationalistic, isolationist, anti-immigration position and proposals.
…We should want none of this here in Australia. Without in any way seeking to play down the significance and richness of our Indigenous origins, heritage and remaining challenges, we are an immigrant nation, where immigration has been fundamental to our economic and social development and wellbeing.
I suggest our greatest post-WWII achievement is that we have built a very tolerant and effective multiracial, multireligious, multicultural society, in many respects the envy of the world. It is to be appreciated, protected and further developed – it remains a work in progress, which calls for a clear acceptance of our national interests, to be delivered collaboratively with understanding, sensitivity and commitment.
It is a process in which we all have a role to play, but it needs to be led from the top, by our political and community leaders.
In this context, the rhetoric of Shorten’s attack this week on 457 visas, essentially claiming that these immigrants are taking our jobs when we have some 700,000 unemployed and as many as 1 million underemployed, was most divisive and irresponsible, especially with the echoes of Trump.
Crikey, John, what is criminal in this debate is the constant false binary put forward by globalists that Australia is some racist state if it reduces immigration to levels apposite to its economic circumstances. Let’s say, around 70k per annum.
The primary driver of anti-immigration sentiment is falling living standards which is in part resulting from overly high immigration that is congesting cities, driving up property prices and driving down wages.
It is indisputable that the visa system is corrupt, that the property market is corrupt and that the process of infrastructure investment is corrupt. Folks have every right to pissed off at high immigration while these things persist.
Stop being a whining wowser and fix the drivers of the problem. Then Australia’s brilliant mutli-cultural inheritance will be protected.
