ICMCEUROPE WelcometoEurope.pdf (5.89 MB)

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What would be your advice to those seeking to increase public support
and awareness about refugee resettlement?
In Australia, public discussion about humanitarian arrivals focuses on
asylum seekers. While the media does highlight the positive contributions
made by refugees and the success of Australia’s refugee and humanitarian
programme, the arrival of a comparatively small number of asylum
seekers by boat generates substantially more media attention. Over the
past decade, both the government and opposition have used asylum policy
in domestic politics, a pattern that usually peaks close to national elections.
The cumulative effect of this destructive debate has been the erosion
of public trust in Australia’s refugee and humanitarian programme.
Australia’s political leaders need to exercise leadership and be proactive
in demonstrating to the public the strengths and benefits our resettlement
programme is delivering to Australia’s economic and social life.
Chapter II – Global Resettlement