SOME of our nation’s more strident voices like to portray Australians as xenophobic and inwards looking.
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Refugees seeking asylum by boat is still a raw topic for many and whenever it becomes newsworthy, countless academics are willing to lambaste our apparent racism and intolerance.
Yet the shrill commentary of some is contradicted by statistical evidence, which shows we are still a welcoming country that is tolerant and accepting.
Australia has the largest per capita intake of migrants than any other country in the world.
More than 190,000 people, mainly skilled migrants and their families, permanently moved to our shores last year.
Newspoll surveyed more than a thousand people on migration this week. The opinion poll found the majority of respondents supported keeping migration levels at the status quo or increasing the benchmark.
The poll also found we are less worried about where our new residents come from.
This is in stark contrast to a generation or two ago when the White Australia Policy was unquestioned by both the Liberal and Labor parties.
It took the brave leadership of Gough Whitlam and Malcolm Fraser, once bitter foes and now friends, to overcome ingrained prejudice and set Australia on a new path.
The welcoming and progressive Australia of the 1970s still exists, but you wouldn’t believe it if you listened to some of our political masters.
Despite our impressive migration record, Australia should improve its attitude to refugees and it is the responsibility of the most powerful to lead the way.
As British journalist Nick Bryant commented: too often it is our politicians that demonise refugees.
Bryant reported in western Sydney during the 2013 federal election, asking voters what they thought were the main issues.
Most nominated transport as their main concern. The only respondent that considered migration a big issue was one of the politicians Bryant interviewed.
Australia is still overwhelmingly tolerant, despite the hollow words of naysayers.