You probably know how Australia started to exist in the formula we have today. It was this island where the British would send their prisoners in exile to separate them from the general public. Even though the British ended up setting a penal colony in Australia, it was, in fact, the Dutch who marked the European arrival. So, in a country formed by immigrants, it would be rather silly to not be able to migrate, don’t you think?
It is not accurate to say that the whole of Australia was a penal colony. We still have the indigenous people. And of course, more nations followed the British in forming their own colonies. Even so, that is of little importance now. It may be helpful to remember the history, to not repeat it as they say, but we need to think of the future.
The question that may be on your minds is whether or not Australia is welcoming. The shortest answer is that yes, it is very welcoming. But it seems that not for everyone. You may have heard in the news that president Trump recently went on a visit and made fun of Australia’s policy of letting people in. We are all familiar with his immigration policy, but leaving that aside, is there any truth in that?
Apparently, Australia was not as ‘nice’ as it is now. It had this conflict with people who would arrive on the continent by boat illegally. While that is not a bad thing because you cannot simply go to a foreign country without permission, it still is a serious issue. No country will accept that. Unless, of course, if you are from the European Union and you travel within the community. Anyway, getting back to our Australia story, the problem was regarding the refugees. It is my understanding that the whole story began back in 2001 when a Norwegian freighter, the MV Tampa, rescued more than 400 Iraqis and Afghans from a sinking ship. The story goes deeper than that, but this is the most recent issue. The freighter entered Australia’s waters and wished to leave all the survivors there, but the operation was refused. That is when Australia got some international attention as far as immigration is concerned.
You cannot really blame the Australian officials. They wanted to maintain their country safe from illegal immigrants. Since it is surrounded by water, every foreigner that arrives by boat is thoroughly checked for contraband and whatnot. That is why my advice is that if you want to travel to Australia, take a flight. You still have to deal with customs and all that, but the process is far easier to go through.
The Australian officials still managed the immigration problem very well, if you ask me. Of course, the international community and the human rights advocates were up in a roar when the two off-shore detention centers, one in Nauru and the other in Manus Island in Papua New Guinea, opened, and as a result, the Supreme Court declared Manus illegal and demanded to be shut down. Which actually happened in 2017. Even so, people are still held in Manus, but they live in special build accommodations, and their circumstances are not much changed.
To be honest, I do not know what the fuss is about all that. If someone comes and sets up a tent in your yard, do you let him live there? Not really, right? After all, it is your yard which you own for yourself and your family. Not some stranger. It is the same with Australia’s leaders. Their first duty is to their citizens, not refugees or other immigrants. However harsh that may seem, the truth is not always flowers and rainbows.
Even so, you should probably know that Australia’s is number 6 on the list of most welcoming countries for refugees. It seems that the whole scandal with the freighter as well as with the other following policies made them change their minds. Of course, they still have rules, but they found a way to manage immigration and satisfy the public at the same time. 12 thousand Syrian refugees came to Australia during the migration, and that is because 84% of its citizens believed that people running from war should be welcomed and helped, not cast away. Just so you know, the global average (of the same opinion) was 73%. As you can see, Australians seems to have opened their arms and their borders more than most countries.
So what does that means for you? Perhaps nothing. You probably applied online for an Electronic Travel Authorization, and you plan to go to Australia as a tourist. Even so, if you are interested in going as a worker or student, that is possible as well. Today, about 28% of Australia’s population consists of immigrants, and that is precisely because of the amended immigration policies from the last decade and a half. Plus, a lot of asylum seekers who used to come illegally to Australia by boat enjoyed political attention. This ultimately led to the situation we have today.
Today, immigration is a significant nation-building project for Australia. The government not only devised entry and improved policies, but they also provide financial aid, which in itself encourages immigration. Plus, the change from the preferential treatment toward the British to an all-national nondiscriminatory policy is one of the things that make Australia one of the most welcoming states in 2018. Additionally, there is an emphasis on economic criteria for all categories of migrants, both temporary and permanent.
One thing that must never be forgotten is that migration is never just one state’s problem. It involves multiple governments and the relations between them. After all, asylum seekers may want to go back home or resettled. Even so, what Australia learned and we can take as an example is that migrants contribute both economically and socially. After all, how do you think that Australia became so economically competitive? It all started when they stopped preferring only European migrants and became multicultural. Do you actually believe that the change has nothing to do with their advancement in the world?
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