dreamer_easy | Australia, the civilised country

This mess needs a posting of its own. The Immigration Minister, Peter Dutton, stated that he was looking for ways to fast-track visas for white South African farmers. "...they do need help from a civilised country like ours", he remarked, lauding them as ideal potential migrants. This initiative has been challenged on two fronts: one, that the situation of white farmers in South Africa is not what the Minister says it is; two, oh what a giveaway, as Monty Python might say: Mr Dutton's concern for white people sharply contrasts with his treatment of brown refugees. His statement has its roots in the Rupert Murdoch-owned news media; their claims are echoed by white supremacist groups online.

The Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, did not support (or oppose) Mr Dutton's call, and the Foreign Minister, Julie Bishop, said there were no plans for special visas. South Africa denies the claim that white farmers are disproportionate victims of violence.

Ironically, if that's the right word, former PM Malcolm Fraser once said of Australia's offshore detention system that white South African farmers who arrived by boat would never be treated the same way. There are long-standing parallels to the history of racism in Australia and South Africa, which this article explores.

Meanwhile, in "civilised" Australia, migrants from an African background have been the victims of what has been called "media terrorism", fuelled by our politicians' lies.