Migrants and Refugees
+ Cardinal George Pell, Archbishop of Sydney
31 Aug 2003
The argument over asylum seekers continues to divide Australians. While court decisions releasing children from detention centres have been in the headlines recently, the absence of any large influx of new arrivals has allowed this issue to fall into the background.
But not too far into the background. For Australians, the focus on the trial of the Bali bombers and the intervention in the Solomon Islands reflect deep concerns about terrorism and security. This is as it should be. The memory of the Australians killed by the Bali terrorists is still fresh. Strenuous efforts have to be made if we are to try to ensure that it does not happen again. In this context, the illegal arrival of foreigners continues to cause suspicion.
Australia’s annual intact of migrants from all over the world remains in place and the numbers have even increased in recent years. The overwhelming majority of these new arrivals quickly set about establishing a new life in a new land. They work hard, make sacrifices for their families and become what migrants to Australia have always become: loyal citizens and committed members of the community.
We take this so much for granted that it is important to recall what a great achievement it is. By and large we have built a society where different groups do not merely tolerate each other, but genuinely respect and value each others differences and accept them as part of what makes life in this country so rich.
This is not something that has come about easily or without struggle. We still have a good way to go. But given that for most of history the co-existence of different ethnic and cultural groups in the one society has often led to tension and bloodshed, the harmony and peacefulness of most of multicultural Australia is reason for rejoicing.
Australians have successfully resisted the temptation to turn inward in response to September 11 2001 and Bali. We have rejected fear and looked to our self-defence without compromising the openness and freedom that mark our way of life. We continue to be generous in the way we welcome legal migrants to our shores. This is no mean feat.
However the public mood on illegal refugees is schizophrenic. Australians don’t want them here but don’t want them treated harshly. The present regime is too tough and ungenerous and there is an absence of political debate about the alternatives.
Just dealing with minorities is the best preventative against extremism and this is the Australian way. Likewise obedience to the laws and customs that sustain Australian democracy is essential, together with efforts by the mainstream majority to generate mutual respect across all our communities.
