In a recent interview, Australian Immigration Minister Peter Dutton sparked debate by suggesting that historical immigration policies under former Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser have contributed to present-day societal problems. Speaking with Sky News commentator Andrew Bolt, Dutton implied that errors in migrant selection during the 1970s are now manifesting in issues within certain communities.
Dutton’s remarks, made during a discussion on Thursday, appeared to link the immigration programs of the Fraser era – which saw significant arrivals from Lebanon, Chile, and the Czech Republic – with contemporary concerns such as alleged criminal activity among Sudanese men and the phenomenon of second-generation immigrants joining extremist groups in the Middle East.
“If there is a particular problem that people can point to within a certain community, and we’re talking about a significant number of people in that community who are doing the wrong thing, then clearly mistakes have been made in the past,” Dutton stated. “The reality is that Malcolm Fraser did make mistakes in bringing some people in in the 1970s and we’re seeing that today. We need to be honest in having that discussion.”
What was Australia’s immigration policy under Malcolm Fraser?
The Sky News interview commenced with a focus on a purported surge in crime in Victoria, with Bolt attributing it largely to “young men of African descent,” particularly those from Sudan. Dutton acknowledged these law and order concerns, criticizing the Victorian government’s approach as lenient.
Bolt pressed further, referencing Fraser’s Lebanese refugee program and questioning whether a similar “mistake” had been made with Sudanese refugees. While Dutton described the proportion of the Sudanese community involved in problematic behavior as an “open question,” he highlighted the “interesting aspect” of Australian-born individuals with migrant or refugee parents becoming involved in Middle Eastern conflicts.
“So we need to have a proper look at what has gone wrong and clearly something has gone wrong,” Dutton asserted. He indicated ongoing reviews of the immigration program, suggesting that adjustments could be made regarding specific groups perceived as struggling with integration or contribution. “If we feel there are problems with particular cohorts, particular nationalities, particular people who might not be integrating well and not contributing well, then there are many other worthy recipients who seek to come to a country like ours and make an opportunity their own.”
Dutton reiterated his criticism of the Victorian government’s handling of law and order, prompting Bolt to agree while pivoting back to the origins of the issue: “but the point really is … with a lot of these cases I often ask, who let them in? They shouldn’t be posing a problem in the first place.”
Bolt then questioned the broader wisdom of importing cultures that might struggle to integrate, specifically raising concerns about the government’s one-off intake of Syrian refugees. In response, Dutton emphasized the government’s “slow pace” in refugee processing to allow for thorough security checks and noted the prioritization of persecuted minorities, such as Syrian Christians, within the intake.
During Malcolm Fraser’s tenure as Prime Minister, Australia experienced significant humanitarian immigration from Lebanon and Asia. Notably, in 2007, Fraser rejected any link between his Lebanese migration program and contemporary racial tensions, even after cabinet documents revealed warnings against increasing Lebanese intake at the time.
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By 1980, over 16,000 Lebanese individuals had arrived in Australia under humanitarian immigration policies responding to the Lebanese civil war of 1976. A leaked government document earlier in the year, which drew criticism from the opposition for alleged bigotry, had singled out the Lebanese community in connection with Australian-based Sunni extremists.
In the decade leading up to 1985, Australia also processed over 95,000 Indochinese refugees for resettlement, largely in response to the Vietnam War. Approximately 50,000 Vietnamese arrived as refugees, including by boat.
Australia’s acceptance of Sudanese refugees gained momentum in the late 1990s, peaking roughly a decade ago. To date, over 20,000 Sudanese individuals have settled in Australia.
An immigration department document, referencing 2011 research on the contributions of humanitarian entrants, highlighted their “greater commitment to life in Australia compared to other migrants.” This research underscored the complex and often positive story of refugee integration, offering a counterpoint to the concerns raised by Immigration Minister Peter Dutton.
Alt texts for images:
For the video link [What was Australia’s immigration policy under Malcolm Fraser?](https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/video/2016/nov/21/what-was-australias-immigration-policy-under-malcolm-fraser-video-explainer):
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For the research link [Refugees are Australia's most entrepreneurial migrants, says research](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/04/refugees-are-australias-most-entrepreneurial-migrants-says-research):
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For the Fraser article link [Fraser rejected any link between his Lebanese migration program and contemporary racial tensions](http://www.theaustralian.com.au/in-depth/cabinet-papers/fraser-was-warned-on-lebanese-migrants/story-e6frgda6-1111112763458):
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For the leaked document link [A leaked government document](https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/feb/05/refugees-may-face-monitoring-further-restrictions-leaked-document):
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For the immigration department document link [An immigration department document](https://www.border.gov.au/CorporateInformation/Documents/immigration-history.pdf):
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