"Nothing more than dog-whistle politics" — that's what conservative News Corp columnist Sharri Markson, had to say about the government's latest plan to introduce an additional English language test for migrants.1
Markson reflected that the test would have excluded well known Australians such as New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian, and business leader Frank Lowy if it were in place when their families migrated.
The government's proposal would determine a person's value and contribution by their grammar skills. But regardless of who a person is or where they comes from, everyone deserves to be treated fairly, and provided the opportunity to become part of our community.
With politicians back in Canberra this week, the government could introduce it's discriminatory changes any day. But if thousands of us pledge our support for multiculturalism, we can call on our Parliament to reject the Coalition's pandering to Hanson voters, and block proposals that discriminate against migrants.
Can you stand up for multiculturalism in the face of these attacks?
Minister Tudge's English test announcement is part of an alarming pattern by a Government desperate to appeal to Pauline Hanson voters — they're trying to strip migrants of income support like parental leave, force through discriminatory changes to citizenship, and — just last week — they tripled the cost of citizenship applications for widows and pensioners.2,3,4
It's a cynical political game that threatens the very fabric of our society.
Many of our families traveled to Australia to build a better life. Regardless of how good their grammar was, they worked hard and contributed to this proud multicultural community.
But Peter Dutton and Alan Tudge seem determined to change all of that by putting obstacles in the way of people from non-English speaking backgrounds making Australia home. They risk creating a permanent underclass of migrant workers, denied equal rights as permanent residents, and as citizens.
Can you pledge your support for multiculturalism and demand politicians stand up to this latest attack?
Our community knows a person's worth shouldn't be determined by how fluently they speak a language— which is why we've fought these policies before.
GetUp members stood alongside multicultural and migrant communities and pushed back on Dutton's proposed changes to citizenship last year – and we won.5
And when Pauline Hanson introduced a near identical piece of legislation, but proposed making migrants wait eight whole years before becoming citizens, GetUp members rejected her proposal in our thousands.6
With politicians back in Canberra this week — we need to remind them again that attacks on multicultural Australia will not be tolerated.
Can you defend multiculturalism against this government's attacks?
Policies like these fly in the face of GetUp's vision for a fair and flourishing future for all Australians — and we're ready to fight it every step of the way.
In determination,
Matt for the GetUp team
Markson reflected that the test would have excluded well known Australians such as New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian, and business leader Frank Lowy if it were in place when their families migrated.
The government's proposal would determine a person's value and contribution by their grammar skills. But regardless of who a person is or where they comes from, everyone deserves to be treated fairly, and provided the opportunity to become part of our community.
With politicians back in Canberra this week, the government could introduce it's discriminatory changes any day. But if thousands of us pledge our support for multiculturalism, we can call on our Parliament to reject the Coalition's pandering to Hanson voters, and block proposals that discriminate against migrants.
Can you stand up for multiculturalism in the face of these attacks?
Minister Tudge's English test announcement is part of an alarming pattern by a Government desperate to appeal to Pauline Hanson voters — they're trying to strip migrants of income support like parental leave, force through discriminatory changes to citizenship, and — just last week — they tripled the cost of citizenship applications for widows and pensioners.2,3,4
It's a cynical political game that threatens the very fabric of our society.
Many of our families traveled to Australia to build a better life. Regardless of how good their grammar was, they worked hard and contributed to this proud multicultural community.
But Peter Dutton and Alan Tudge seem determined to change all of that by putting obstacles in the way of people from non-English speaking backgrounds making Australia home. They risk creating a permanent underclass of migrant workers, denied equal rights as permanent residents, and as citizens.
Can you pledge your support for multiculturalism and demand politicians stand up to this latest attack?
Our community knows a person's worth shouldn't be determined by how fluently they speak a language— which is why we've fought these policies before.
GetUp members stood alongside multicultural and migrant communities and pushed back on Dutton's proposed changes to citizenship last year – and we won.5
And when Pauline Hanson introduced a near identical piece of legislation, but proposed making migrants wait eight whole years before becoming citizens, GetUp members rejected her proposal in our thousands.6
With politicians back in Canberra this week — we need to remind them again that attacks on multicultural Australia will not be tolerated.
Can you defend multiculturalism against this government's attacks?
Policies like these fly in the face of GetUp's vision for a fair and flourishing future for all Australians — and we're ready to fight it every step of the way.
In determination,
Matt for the GetUp team
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