The Debate on Immigration and Asylum Seekers in Australia - Essay Example

The debate on Immigration and Asylum Seekers in Australia Introduction: There have been many controversies in the rapidly growing Australian population and the concept of a ‘Big Australia’ in the recent past. Leaders have expressed different varying opinions on the issue and given justification for each opinion. Some have advocated for the concept of a ‘Big Australia’ while others are openly against the concept. A number of contradicting talks and debates on whether Australia should accept or should not accept more asylum seekers have been held in the recent past. The former prime minister for instance, has been actively supporting the concept of a ‘Big Australia’ while the current prime minister has expressed her distrust in the concept of a ‘Big Australia’ (ABC News, 2009). Supporters of the concept of a ‘Big Australia’ have given the benefits that would come with having a high population ,for instance that high density promotes free market operations due to the high competition from the economic environment. However, those who are against the concept of a ‘Big Australia’ have raised concerns on the sustainability of a high density population (Common wealth of Australia, 2009). The concept of a Big Australia promotes allowing the Australian population to keep growing at the current rate, which some leaders have expresses concern on. Other national goals will be affected by the concept of a ‘Big Australia’. The government, together with the Greens Members of parliament has proposed to have a reduction in emissions of carbon to the environment in the country by the year 2020. Strategies and policies to reduce this kind of pollution have been designed and set aside but, more population growth means more carbon pollution. Therefore, population management should be a key concern if such goals are to be achieved. It has become impossible to discuss the issue of Australia’s population without talking about the issue of the asylum seekers. All the times it becomes contentious and more so when different political leader take different opinions. Some politicians have put forward claims that those opposing the issue of accepting more asylum seekers are racists. However, the Amnesty International (2011) has carried out research and found that the sentiments and concerns raised about the issues of accepting more asylum seekers are genuine. The majority of Australians in support of accepting more asylum seekers have been making conclusions with based on misconceptions and insufficient facts. Most Australians think that the asylum seekers are people with bad motives and not genuine refugees who have no where to go. This has resulted from the many highly poeticized debates where some politicians talk without having factual details. Politicians have intentionally given highly alarming and misleading statements with the motive of gaining a political advantage. For example, the figure on Australia net immigration intake has been 180,000 a year yet some politicians have cited the figure as 300,000.this inflated figure gives false alarm to the Australians on the sustainability of the population, yet, the 300,000 figure includes tourists, temporary visitors and students from abroad. The Australians government and the opposition have different political concerns which have continuously clouded the judgment on the issues of the Australians population and the asylum seekers. The government appears to be panicked about the issue of the many asylum seekers getting in to the country. The opposition on its side is desperate to achieve political advantage. The leadership of Abbott saw the coalition recover from the last elections polling results where 20 seats were almost lost in the Malcolm turn bull’s Godwin Grech mix up. The shake up made the coalition to realize that the days when the labor party could not be challenged are gone. The politicians always look at the polling implications and benefits accrued from the population. Different poll opinions held by different private companies suggest that the coalition stands to lose on eight seats, when the Electoral Commission redistributes the voters, which would give Rudd more political advantage and lead him to a second-term win. The government is aware that it is possible to wipe out its majority supporters even though the Labor party is in evidently in the lead. The government also fears that the working elite’s political loyalty to the party is shaky; this is after the experience with John Howard. The success has been attributed with large support from the working families, which was attracted by the Work choices policy formulated by Howard. The government anxiety is based on whether it would be able to generate such support and loyalty from different groups. The issue of the Australian net population and acceptance of more asylum seekers hold the potential to provoke major shifts in the polls. This is because the immigration issue has been discussed along the issue of racism and white Australia. Political parties and leaders thus fear making unpopular stands on the matter due to the high implication on poll patterns. The issue of population that is, population size and growth is critical in any country. Population size have impacts on the livings standards in a country, economic growth, political issues, health and medical issues, security issues, infrastructure, education facilities and in conclusion growth and development. A country should have a way of managing its population to numbers that it can comfortably provide for, and sustain in regard to the available natural and artificial resources (Nobles, 2008). Examples of the resources that should be considered include land, water, clean air, housing, financial resources and other resources (Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria, 2010). Stopping more acceptances of asylum seekers and reducing immigration intake would not be the ultimate solution to Australia’s population size according to former Prime Minister Rudd. The comparison between the number of new arrivals in Australia and the increase in Australian-born individuals show that much of the population increase is not from the asylum seekers and refugees; the significant increase is from Australian citizens’ birth rate. Rudd believes in the concept of a ‘Big Australia’, the business people also believe that a ‘Big Australia’ would result to the opening of more business opportunity. More people would also benefit some parts in the country that experience shortage of some skills and labor (Sen & Snow, 1994). However, Rudd’s sentiments have been sharply opposed by the opposition which openly claims that the government has lost control on the issue of the country’s population. In retaliation to the accusations, the government named Burke to be a minister for population to handle the concerns raised about the growing Australian population. The opposition believes that the acceptance of more asylum seekers keeps encouraging and promoting illegal businesses. When the boats arrive, there is lack of sufficient inspection to verify that those people are genuine political refugees. Some arrive with the intention of smuggling illegal goods and dangerous weapons in the country while others are in the business of human tracking and smuggling (Massola, 2011). Rudd and his government seem to have reacted to the accusations by the opposition that he is unable to handle the issues of population growth in Australia. The people of Australia therefore wait to see the actions that Burke, the newly appointed minister for population, will take to curb the challenges from the rising population (Jakubowicz Andrew, 2011). The government decisions to stop further processing of immigration and asylum seekers claims was a reaction to the opposition rising accusations and the general Australians panic on populations sustainability (Global Voices,2011). Asylum seekers from Sri Lankan and Afghan are deemed more dangerous in the country as not all of them who arrive in boats are genuine; most are in people smuggling business, which even the United Nations has acknowledged that it is on the rise, and is out of control. In as much that the Australian government should feel the obligation to help out other people from countries with political instability and war, care should be taken when letting people in the country. The government first duty and responsibility should be to promote the welfare and interests of its citizens (Independent Evaluation Group, 2011). Australians citizens’ security and well- being should not be compromised in a bid to have a ‘Big Australia’. Conclusion: Stopping to accept more asylum seekers and reducing immigration is nit the real cure to the challenges in Australia (IRIN, 2011). It will only limit Freedom of movement of people resources and capital resources which is not desirable to the countries economic development (Simon, 1999). It also hinders social growth, which comes through interactions from people of different cultures. Hindering interaction from some races is anti social and primitive in the current times, yet a large group who support reduction of immigration do so on racism basis. The government should have the asylum seekers properly screened to determine the real intentions and reasons of moving to the country; it is inhuman and against humanity best practices to decline to help genuine political refugees who flee to Australia to save their lives (Australian Human Rights Commission,2011). Migration on its own way should not fuel crime if the legitimate processes are observed (Swain, 2007). The Australian government and policy makers need to come with strategies that increase the infrastructure and other resources with increase in population. This is because the significant growth in the Australian population results from natural causes other than the refugees fleeing to the country. In fact the asylum seekers issue should not worry the government so much because with time the foreigners add to the tax base thus raising the government revenues (ABC News, 2009). The concern should be instead directed towards the natural population growth since it does not add to the government’s tax base (Beder, 2001). Planning for the population is what is important; the concept of a ‘Big Australia should not be opposed in so long as proper policies are put into place to cater for the needs of the population. References: ABC News. (2009).Rudd Welcomes Big Australia Available from: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2009-10-23/rudd-welcomes-big-australia/1113752 Amnesty International Australia. (2011). Refugees’ Human Rights Available from: http://www.amnesty.org.au/refugees/ Australian Human Rights Commission. (2011). Asylum seekers and refugees Available from: http://www.hreoc.gov.au/human_rights/immigration/asylum_seekers.html Beder Sharon. (2001). Are there limits to population growth in Australia? Available from: http://www.uow.edu.au/~sharonb/STS300/limits/studies/population.html Common wealth of Australia. (2009). Fact Sheet 15 - Population Projections Available from: http://www.immi.gov.au/media/fact-sheets/15population.htm Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria. (2010). Australian Population growth and Immigration Available from: http://www.eccv.org.au/library/eccv_population_growth_&_immigration_position_paper.pdf Global Voices. (2011).Australia: Asylum seekers inflame detention debate Available From: http://globalvoicesonline.org/2011/05/02/australia-asylum-seekers-inflame-detention-debate/ Independent Evaluation Group. (2011).Australian’s Government Performance Framework Availablefrom: http://siteresources.worldbank.org/EXTEVACAPDEV/Resources/ecd_wp_25_australia.pdf IRIN (2011).Migration: Timeline of Australian asylum-seeker debate Available from: http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?reportid=93760 Jakubowicz Andrew. (2011) Refugees and Asylum Seekers http://www.multiculturalaustralia.edu.au/library/media/Timeline- Commentary/id/134.Refugees-and-Asylum-Seekers----- Massola James. (2011). Tony Abbott labels the asylum-seeker debate an issue of trust Available from: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/immigration/tony-abbott-labels-the-asylum-seeker-debate-an-issue-of-trust/story-fn9hm1gu-1226143452955 Nobles Melissa. (2008).The Politics of Official Apologies .United States of America: Cambridge University Press Sen Gita & Snow Rachael. (1994).Power and Decision: The Social Control of Reproduction, Harvard: Harvard Center for Population and Development Studies Simon Lincoln. (1999).The economic consequences of immigration Edition2, United States of America: University of Michigan Press Swain Carol. (2007). Debating Immigration, United States: Cambridge University Press Read More