• Australia Fair

  • By: SBS
  • Podcast

  • Summary

  • Australia is often touted as one of the 'most successful multicultural countries on the planet' - but are we really? While today more than half of all Australians have a parent born overseas, Australia has a weird and troubled immigration history that dates back to The White Australia Policy and beyond. Host Janak Rogers takes a look at key moments in Australia’s migration story and unpacks the nation's thorny relationship with race.
    Copyright 2024, Special Broadcasting Services
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Episodes
  • 8. Now what…
    Oct 21 2024
    In the season finale of Australia Fair, host Janak Rogers tackles the profound effects of the Israel-Gaza conflict on Australia's social fabric. This episode highlights the surge in anti-Semitic and Islamophobic incidents, focusing on the fallout from former Labor Senator Fatima Payman’s outspoken criticism of Israel, which led to her resignation from parliamentary committees and departure from the Labor Party. The discussion extends to the strain on Australia's multicultural cohesion, with experts like Dr. Max Kaiser analysing the rising racial tensions and immigration debates. We reflect on Australia’s progress towards inclusivity and the essential work needed to address the deeper issues of multiculturalism and foster a truly united society - including the reconciliation journey with Australia's Indigenous communities. Activists and scholars, including Jacqui Katona, emphasise the need for genuine reconciliation with Indigenous Australians and a redefined approach to multiculturalism that acknowledges historical and ongoing injustices.
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    33 mins
  • 7. 'Ganging up'
    Oct 21 2024
    In recent years, African Australian communities have become one of the more visible newly arrived migrant communities in Australia. With their arrival has come a heated narrative about African ‘gangs’ and crime waves, stoked by familiar fears with roots in Australia’s racist past. In Episode 7 of Australia Fair, host Janak Rogers chats with activist and storyteller Bol Mayan, who runs the Seed Network to amplify African Australian voices; Mariam Koslay, a writer and filmmaker; and Jim Malo, a journalist examining race and media. This episode explores how sensational media coverage, particularly around events like the 2018 Moomba Festival brawl, COVID-19 lockdowns in Melbourne’s public housing towers, and the entrenched ‘African gangs’ coverage has affected Australia’s African diaspora communities.
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    30 mins
  • 6. 'We Will Decide'
    Oct 21 2024
    In Episode 6 of Australia Fair, host Janak Rogers tackles the tumultuous evolution of Australia’s refugee policies, tracing their origins back to the 2001 Tampa affair and the events of 9/11. This episode captures the heated protests at Woomera Detention Centre during Easter 2002, when activists clashed with authorities, and examines how these moments of crisis catalysed harsh new immigration policies under Prime Minister John Howard. As the show navigates the fallout from these events, including the notorious "children overboard" scandal, it explores the ongoing impacts on asylum seekers and the political landscape. Featuring voices from prominent figures like Behrouz Boochani, who spent years detained on Manus Island, and refugees still struggling with limbo under current policies, this episode offers a close look at the legacy of Australia’s immigration policies and the deep-seated issues surrounding them.
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    31 mins

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