This Sunday, at the same time in all major cities across Australia, Climate Action Now will be marching at the “March for Australia” rallies. These events are promoted by organizations that have allegedly ties to white nationalism. These Forward Together events, which promote and defend mass migration as a thing to be celebrated, have produced very polarized responses from the migrant community. Some individuals express concern for their safety, while others stand firm in their belief that immigration contributes positively to the nation.
Chole Jiang, a healthcare worker and long-time Melburnian expressed her discomfort on the idea of the rally. She said posts on social media had been warning that there would be hostility towards the migrants from people taking part in the march. For Mihir Kuvadiya, a fellow student who has lived in Melbourne for more than two years, the future looks bright. He was optimistic that Australia would remain an attractive destination for migrants, responding that the country was created by migrants.
Diverse Perspectives from the Migrant Community
Solene Michel, who has just landed from Europe on a Work and Holiday visa. Unlike in 2017, she plans to stay home while the march is going on. She referred to the safety issue as she recalled how her friend once warned her about the existence of racism in Melbourne. Michel understood this when he said that “racism is in all places.” More than that, she wishes to be careful considering the context of the event.
Francis, who immigrated from Hong Kong at the age of eight, has never experienced racism personally. He doesn’t want to hear from everyone, but everyone should have the right to be heard at their rallies. She indicated that she felt overwhelmed by the idea of large numbers of people organizing and mobilizing against immigrants.
Mihir Kuvadiya made sure to express how full of hope he is for the changes migrants will create in the future to society. He noted, “I’m not that worried with the rally because this nation is built on immigration.” He further added, “If you are legal here, if you are paying taxes, I don’t think anyone can take you out of this place because you’re contributing something to the economy.”
Concerns Over Safety and Integration
While hopes rise ahead of the marches planned for October 17, most of these migrants are thinking deeply about their past experiences in Australia. Chole Jiang spoke on her experiences as a worker. She hammered home her point of how unfairly she had been typecast by parts of society. “We are here to work, and we live just like any normal person would,” Jiang stated. “So no need to be this racist against migrant workers.”
The community’s sentiments varied regarding integration. Discomfort comes more often, agreed one unnamed community member, from people unwilling to adjust to their new surroundings. They remarked, “I think the ones that actually make people uncomfortable and upset people are the ones that don’t want to integrate.” This perspective underscores the need for an emerging conversation within immigrant communities about cultural assimilation and societal acceptance.
Government Policies and Their Impact
That’s why the federal government recently opened up a thrilling new path toward an increased cap on international student intake. Next year, the cap increases by nine percent to 295,000 students total! This decision was made against the backdrop of continuing debate over the treatment of migrants to Australia.
Despite growing misinformation and changing public opinion across age and social demographics, many migrants are optimistic about their long-term prospects in Australia. Mihir Kuvadiya reflected on his experiences positively, stating, “I found out people over here are really nice.” He shared insights from his friend who warned him about potential racism but noted that sometimes negative interactions are misinterpreted. “Sometimes, when people are having a really bad day and treat others poorly, it can be mistaken for racism.”
As the country prepares for this weekend’s Climate Marches. Amid this enthusiasm lies fear, trepidation and aspiration with which the migrants themselves braced—all facets of the new global economy and identity that today’s Australia embodies.
