SECTION IV: ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF

MIGRATION

Advantages
1.

Disadvantages

Cultural and linguistic diversity:

Racial conflict:
Considered a valuable resource
There are those whose this as a
Over 200 languages spoken here
threat to Australias Anglo-Celtic
background.
A rich mix of traditions, cultures,
Some groups are discriminated
languages and beliefs:
against eg. Sudanese people in
multiculturalism is now considered
Tamworth.
a defining characteristic of Austs
identity.
Food, music, customs enrich our
lifestyle.
2. Economic benefits:
Economic costs:

Generate wealth and employment

A drain on the economy because they
for all Australians + invest in
need support services.
economy. (29% small businesses
Take jobs from Australians.
owned/operated by overseas born.
Harm our Balance of Payments (Trade dealings

Generate extra tax revenue for govt.

dealings with the rest of the world).
This is especially important in aging
Society.

Important language skills and understanding

of other cultures boosts our links/
Business opportunities overseas.

As a migrants length of stay

increases, their incomes rises and
they are less dependent on services.
3. Geopolitical advantages:
Geopolitical disadvantages
Migration policy is a sensitive topic
Australias hard line on people
and accepting refugees improves our
smuggling out of SE Asia has
foreign relations and standing in the
created some friction with our
international community. Australias
close neighbours
abandonment of the White Australia
The Pacific Solution (processing/
Policy and more open migration policy
detaining asylum seekers on islands
has enabled it to build bilateral and
outside the migration zone) has
multilateral links such as APEC and
drawn criticism from the United
ASEAN.
Nations.
Australia is bound by the Refugee
Convention to accept refugees

SECTION V: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EQUITY

Social justice: protecting human rights and ensuring that international law is adhered to.
Also about ensuring fairness and rectifying social wrongs.

Controversies:
1. Mandatory detention of unauthorised asylum seekers:

The Australian Governments policy for processing asylum seekers

The Tampa crisis:

The Pacific solution: