For African migrants in Australia, life just got a bit harder. As well as settling into a foreign country, African migrants have recently been targeted by the Immigration Minister for special mention, as they pose a ‘problem and a challenge’ in terms of integration.
In order to receive more refugees from Iraq and Burma, the annual nationality quotas have been changed. As the new 30 percent African quota (down from 70 percent) for 2007/08 has already been reached, no more African refugees will be allowed into Australia until at least July 2008. The doors are effectively shut to those escaping genocide in Darfur, civil war in Ethiopia, and those hoping to reunite with family already in Australia.
As abrupt as this may seem, Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews has managed to make things worse by suggesting the reason behind the cut was that ‘some groups don’t seem to be settling and adjusting into the Australian way of life’. He didn’t leave it at that. ‘Some groups’ he specified as Sudanese refugees, apparently involved in anything from gang violence to alcohol abuse.
These statements were based on ‘anecdotal evidence’ which Andrews refused to make public. Andrews’ statements have attracted publicity around the world, as newspapers from the UK, USA, Asia and Africa ponder his motivations. As a journalist from the Nigerian Tribune argued, ‘A refugee is running from danger and should not be asked what he thinks about integration.’ Kenya’s Business Daily reasoned, ‘We might call it tribalism in Kenya… We all know it is bare prejudice based on a manufactured difference.’
Andrews has taken a straightforward immigration matter and tried to turn it into a racial issue, just in time for the federal election. For the most part, the Australian public has failed to take the bait. . Media analyst Patrick Baume notes, ‘It certainly seems that the vast majority of people have no opinion at all or are simply not fussed about African immigrants.’
Australia has a history of official and unofficial racism. Italian migrants in the 1950s, Vietnamese migrants in the 1970s, and Chinese migrants in the 1990s are just a few groups who have faced similar racial discrimination upon arrival. Today, these groups are a celebrated part of Australia’s social fabric.
African migrant, Dr. Andre Renzaho, argues that former refugees ‘have become parents to lawyers, doctors and scientists that have made significant contributions to Australian life. African migrants will be equally successful, given time.’
Providing services to migrants, especially refugees, is admittedly a colossal undertaking. One refugee alone may require English language assistance, income support, vocational training, support to develop life skills, family counselling, health services and basic legal education, to assist their integration into society. The recent Budget allocated an additional $210 million to the $250 million already spent on migrant services. Yet these services often neglect rural areas and fail to engage young men in particular, making the results patchy at best.
For the next phase of Australia’s development as a multicultural society, services for refugees need to be improved and long-held attitudes need to change. To accept refugees based on their ability to integrate easily, instead of their humanitarian needs, is a mistake. Problems with integration should be acknowledged and dealt with, just as the successes of migrants should be celebrated.
In a country where racist immigration policies supposedly went out with the White Australia Policy in 1973, Andrews seems intent on continuing the tradition into the 21st century. But a little foresight and a good history lesson would help us all to realise that African refugees have a right to call Australia home.
How do I know this?
AAP 2007, ‘Africans accusing Andrews of racial slur’, The
Sydney Morning Herald, 5 October,
http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Africans-accusing-Andrews-of-racial-slur/2007/10/05/1191091355822.html
AAP 2007, ‘Andrews unbowed, Sudanese tensions brew’,
The Sydney Morning Herald, 11 October,
http://www.smh.com.au/news/NATIONAL/Andrews-unbowed-Sudanese-tensions-brew/2007/10/11/1191696047864.html
Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs.2007, 'Australia’s Support for Humanitarian Entrants',
Australian Government,
http://www.dimia.gov.au/media/publications/visa-entry/_pdf/ashe.pdf
Editorial 2007, ‘Australia and African Refugees’,
Nigerian Tribune, 9 October,
http://www.tribune.com.ng/09102007/edit.html
Metherell, M 2007, ‘Where angels fear to tread’,
The Sydney Morning Herald, 13 October,
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/where-angels-fear-to-tread/2007/10/12/1191696173839.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1
Ogola, G 2007, ‘How Fear of the ‘Outsider’ Rules Elections’,
Business Daily (Kenya), 15 October,
http://allafrica.com/stories/200710160131.html
Pearlman, J 2007, ‘Andrews, Howard deny racism’,
The Sydney Morning Herald, 5 October,
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/andrews-howard-deny-racism/2007/10/04/1191091276214.html
Renzaho, A 2007, ‘Slamming the door on Africa’,
The Sydney Morning Herald, 9 October,
http://www.smh.com.au/news/opinion/slamming-the-door-on-africa/2007/10/08/1191695819548.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1
Ricketson, M 2007, ‘There’ll be no whistling up another Tampa’,
The Age, 15 October,
http://www.theage.com.au/news/opinion/therell-be-no-whistling-up-another-tampa/2007/10/14/1192300597622.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1
Rout, M 2007, ‘Unis unite to slam ‘racist’ Andrews’,
The Australian, 9 October,
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22554203-12332,00.html
The panel discusses African Immigration. 2007, television program, Insiders, ABC TV, 7 October,
http://www.abc.net.au/news/video/2007/10/07/2052837.htm
Tony Burke speaks to Insiders. 2007, television program, Insiders, ABC TV, 7 October,
http://www.abc.net.au/insiders/content/2007/s2052835.htm 
