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https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/nov/25/giridharan-sivaraman-australia-doesnt-need-another-migration-debate-tackle-inequality>
"Racism and economic insecurity can have a close relationship in this country.
That is most apparent when Australia finds itself pulled into another so-called
“debate” about migration. This is usually sparked by populism or attempts to
blame complex issues like housing affordability on our annual migrant intake.
Across the country, recent rallies and commentary are blaming migrants for a
range of woes, from the cost of living to housing supply. Politicians from
various sides made similar claims prior to the last federal election. We’re
seeing a rise in far-right parties platformed on anti-immigration rhetoric and
racism. This rhetoric feeds on genuine economic concerns but ignores the
structural forces driving economic insecurity and undermines the right to
dignity, security and equality for all.
The Coalition is reported to be working on a new policy to cut migration. There
is nothing wrong with discussing migration levels. The issue is when we are not
having honest discussions about the rights to housing, decent social security
benefits and fair wages. The debate needs to be courageous enough to require
the wealthy and corporations to give fairly to help realise those rights and to
interrogate a crisis of systemic inequality.
Taking the easy but misleading route of blaming migrants for economic
insecurity only serves to stoke the already smouldering fires of racism.
Migrants are dehumanised in this debate, and this racism has harmful impacts on
their daily lives.
When commentary repeatedly frames migrants as a burden, a threat or the reason
for economic hardship, it reinforces stereotypes that have real consequences.
It ignores the fact that migration has been a bedrock of our economic success
and that migrants on average contribute far more than they receive. Such
narratives have historically paved the way for cuts to social security for all,
harsher migration policies and a political climate where compassion is treated
as weakness. They shape public fear, not public understanding. And when fear
grows, racism grows with it. We must ask ourselves: who benefits when
communities are set against each other?"
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
