I was at an academic conference last week, and it struck me how it seems that the default attitude is ‘doom and gloom’.
Racism? Marginalisation? The gap between rich and poor? Australian xenophobia? Yep, they are all rampant, you could think.
I am writing a PhD thesis about the success of integration of Hazara holders of Temporary Protection Visa holders into Australian society.
It’s a good news story.
And every so often I worry that it is not dark enough to be taken seriously.
But I am a natural optimist, and always am amazed by how many Australians welcome new settlers, and not by numbers who don’t want them.
The blogger at PoliticalOwl brought my attention to the most recent Morgan survey of what Australians see as the important issues, and the good news is that only 7% of Australians rate asylum and refugee issues as the most important problem facing Australia.
This is up from 1% last May, and 0 last November – but still – I see it as good.
‘Pollyanna’ Possie
