Essay, Research Paper: English Cat1(Immigration) Year12

The controversy surrounding and restricting the number of immigrants allowed into Australia
each year has flared erratically since Australia opened it s gates to immigrants in the post world
war II period. The issue simmered through the lower part of 1998 when the federal government
once again considered acceptable numbers to be allowed into Australia in the near future. The
issue was greeted with a wide ranging debate with in the media via editorials, letters to the editor
and feature articles which often sparked emotional responses with in the community.
Gerard Henderson convincing article Time for Howard to change track (Sydney Morning
Herald 20/10/98) looks at the New Zealand approach to increase the amount of migrants allowed
into the country each year and criticizes John Howard for not following the same note. A
sensible tone is used which is not too one sided and looks at some negative affects of
immigration. Although Henderson continually appears to look at the efficient way in which
Jenny Shipley s (New Zealand Prime Minister) add to immigration has helped the New Zealand
Economic structure. While trying to make us realise our economy must grow words like boost
and increasing are used appropriately to suggest that why doesn t the Australia government
add to immigration levels to improve our standard of living. Through out the article Henderson
presses to make it look like John Howard is in the wrong by using accusations from the past
when Paul Keating called Howard a Racist . This successfully suggests for in the reader that
this could possibly be why he wants less immigrants. During the second half of the article a
number of professional people(Ian Forster, writer of the book Myths and realities and Dr. Bob
Birrell, Director Of Immigration Reform) are brought in to add greater credibility to the point he
is trying to make about extra immigration. Statements are then used such as the evidence that
immigration has been generally beneficial for the Australian Economy to keep the view point
strong and continues drawing the reader into believing the writer s opinion. The article ends by
making reference to how immigration open Australia up to the world this is to let us know
immigration can only be positive. This closure is intended to make one last attempt at drawing
the reader into agreeing with the writer s point of view.
On Friday the 12th of February 1999 a series of articles appeared under the tittle Open to the
World on page 19 of the Herald Sun. A sub heading There s Room for more clearly stated and
made clear to the reader from the very start that writer DR John Nieuwenhuysen was driving for
more migrants to be allowed into Australia. In a persuasive tone the article confronts the reader
with the added benefits of immigration, and pushes the idea that migrants have to be accepted
into society for a greater nation. This is done firmly with some powerful phrases such as We
can t shut our selves of to the rest of the world and Immigration will have favorable effects .
This is effective and minimizes the impact of any objections. During the article the Dr.
sarcastically by using rhetorical questions stating arguments used declining immigration
increases such as Why can t Australia afford new people and how are migrants taking
Australian jobs . The writer then opposes these reasons and contradicts them with his own
theories and other peoples research on how immigration helps Australia. Words that make
Australia seem lonely with are used such as solitude, barren and isolation these make
Australia seem as if with out immigration our population rate will decrease and the land will
become shut off from the rest of the world. The article finishes with a reference to weather
Australia wants to live in the past or open her self to the world. This last comments added by the
writer just finalizes in the readers mind that Australia is definitely better of with more
immigrants.
A letter written by Sheila Ryan of Bridgeport Tasmania appeared just after the Open to the
world articles of the Herald Sun on the 12th of February 1999. The letter headed ALP s Migrant
increase unsustainable attacks the Labor plan for an increase in immigration. In a desperate
tone Ryan blames Labor for not thinking about the high unemployment level and struggling
small businesses that will suffer with the extra population. She also uses a passionate link of
phrases such as hearts of are young are bleeding . This is done to add extra feeling to the letter
and try and draw the reader into and agree with the emotion she is feeling for the issue. During
the letter the reader is confronted with a number of problems concerning extra migrants coming
into the country. This adds to the tactic of using words that create vivid images such as flood,
rise, saturating . These words seem to create the scene of immigrants pouring into our already
crowded society, a society that opposes greater immigration and causing havoc. The final
challenging question continues an endearing attack asking Martin Ferguson(liberal immigration
minister). about an improved national job creation scheme that envelopes some of our
unemployed residents not unwanted immigrants. This last question leaves you wondering as the
reader why bring more immigrants into Australia and cause problems when there are plenty of
Australians who need jobs.
Still the immigration fight continues with in the media to weather or not extra migrants should
be allowed into our country. The hype quieted down for a little while during the end of 1998,
until Victorian Premiere Jeff Kennett made a statement that Australia must have more migrants
to boost the economy so we may be able to compete with other migrants. So this situation seems
to be a never ending battle going nowhere and just something the media like to make a big deal
about.