Constructions of asylum seekers and refugees in Australian political discourse
Contribuinte(s) |
Richards, Kelly Tauri, Juan Marcellus |
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Data(s) |
2013
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Resumo |
Immigration to Australia has long been the focus of negative political interest. In recent times, the proposal of exclusionary policies such as the Malaysia Deal in 2011 has fuelled further debate. In these debates, Federal politicians often describe asylum seekers and refugees as ‘illegal’, ‘queue jumpers’, and ‘boat people’. This paper investigates how the political discourse constructs asylum seekers and refugees during debates surrounding the Malaysia Deal in the Federal Parliament of Australia in 2011. Hansard Parliamentary debates were analysed to identify the underlying themes and constructions that permeate political discourse about asylum seekers and refugees. This paper argues that a dichotomous characterisation of legitimacy pervades their construction with this group constructed either as legitimate humanitarian refugees or as illegitimate ‘boat arrivals’. These constructions result in the misrepresentation of asylum seekers as illegitimate, undermining their right to protection under Australia’s laws and international obligations. This construction also represents a shift in federal political discourse from constructing asylum seekers as a border or security threat, towards an increasing preoccupation with this categorisation of people as legitimate, or illegitimate. |
Formato |
application/pdf |
Identificador | |
Publicador |
Queensland University of Technology |
Relação |
http://eprints.qut.edu.au/62722/1/Constructions_of_aslyum_seekers_Conference_paper_Final.pdf http://crimejusticeconference.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Conference-Proceedings-Vol-1_2013.pdf Rowe, Elizabeth & O'Brien, Erin (2013) Constructions of asylum seekers and refugees in Australian political discourse. In Richards, Kelly & Tauri, Juan Marcellus (Eds.) Crime Justice and Social Democracy : Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference, Queensland University of Technology, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, pp. 173-181. |
Direitos |
Copyright 2013 Crime and Justice Research Centre, Queensland University of Technology |
Fonte |
Crime & Justice Research Centre; Faculty of Law; School of Justice |
Palavras-Chave | #160200 CRIMINOLOGY #160600 POLITICAL SCIENCE |
Tipo |
Conference Paper |