Forgive me for my naivety but the people we saw at the March for Australia rallies at the weekend are not the true representation of Australia and the Australian people whom I have interacted with over the years in so many various settings; from workplace, to University, to my place of worship, to going to the footy at the MCG or going shopping at my local shopping centres.
It was sad to see the way that the people conducted themselves at the “so-called March for Australia” at the weekend.
I’m appalled by the misrepresentation of the Australian flag at these rallies.
These groups may have legitimate concerns but they went about it in a very un-Australian way.
Australia is an egalitarian nation and all Australians should stand for equality for all people.
Other important values that define the Australian society are: “tolerance”, “fair go” and “compassion for those in need” including those in need of refuge.
The Australia that these people pretend to be representing is not the Australia I took an oath for when I became an Australian citizen more than 15 years ago.
The Australian Pledge for Citizenship reads:
“From this time forward, under God, I pledge my loyalty to Australia and its people, whose democratic beliefs I share, whose rights and liberties I respect, and whose laws I will uphold and obey”.
None of the actions at the protest at the weekend came anywhere closer to the above pledge.
If these people care about this state, the organisers would have called off the protest, particularly in a week when our police community is in mourning and police resources stretched to the limit due to the ongoing manhunt in the North-East of the state.
But sadly, they went ahead and not only that, there were grieve-triggering flags being waved at the protest, particularly the one belonging to the “sovereign citizens” which the alleged killer of two police officers, Dezi Freeman is reportedly part of.
Also, there was a man holding a placard with an image of Dezi Freeman at the Adelaide march.
Australia has a strong and successful multicultural story which is why so many people from around the world are choosing to come to Australia for whatever reasons.
Having a responsible immigration policy is an important part of this successful multicultural story.
The federal government has taken steps to manage immigration responsibly as well as putting in place measures, e.g. housing policy to alleviate pressure on local services and resources.
According to an article published on the ABC in March this year, figures show that “Australia’s net migration is actually receding at a rate of 100,000 people per year since peaking at 536,000 in 2022-23. That rate is enough for a swift return to pre-pandemic levels”.
It’s very important to note that we need people to come here because it is good for the Australian economy, whether they are coming to study (with education being one of Australia’s biggest exports – bringing in billions of dollars each year) or fill in vacant jobs in so many areas where there is workforce shortage, particularly in Aged Care, Health Care and some technical roles.
Political leaders, particularly, leaders of the parties at all levels of government need to publicly condemn such movements and their dangerous ideologies which are counter-productive to a society aspiring to be a role model for a socially cohesive society.
To every young Australian who is an immigrant or a child of an immigrant parent/s, you are Australian from the day you took an oath to become Australian citizen or the day you were born in this country.
No one should tell you otherwise.
Being an Australian is not measured by someone’s skin colour or how long someone’s family has been in Australia for.
But it is about living in accordance with the above-mentioned pledge and values.
Australia is better than this.
Australian people are better than this.
March for Australia groups do not represent who we really are.
Andrew Gai, Cranbourne
