Indian-origin parliamentarian Michelle Ananda-Rajah expressed her frustration over the ongoing anti-migration rallies across Australia .
While speaking in the Australian Parliament , Rajah said that she migrated to Australia at the age of 12 and, now at 52, even as a member of the national parliament, "she still feel compelled to prove their Australianness."
"I am exhausted, as a migrant, from constantly having to justify my existence in this country," she said.
"I've been here for 40 years. I came to Australia when I was 12, and here I am, at the age of 52, as a parliamentarian in the Australian Parliament, still having to prove my Australianness," she added.
Pointing to the sprig of wattle on her lapel, Rajah drew a parallel between wattle with the "resilience of migrants" and said, "And I’m wearing, for goodness’ sake, a sprig of wattle on my lapel today. Why? Because it’s National Wattle Day — the 1st of September — a day to celebrate our unity, diversity, and resilience."
"And why wattle? Because there are over a thousand species of wattle, and it is one of the most resilient plants in our landscape. It can withstand fire after fire after fire — and it blooms. It comes back stronger. And isn’t that like the story of wave after wave of migrants to this country? Since World War II, every wave of migrants — the Greeks, the Italians, the Jews, the Vietnamese, and now the South Asians, including Indians, Sri Lankans, Malaysians, and people of colour like me — have had to be resilient. Because they’ve all encountered xenophobia. Every single one of them," she added.
However, Rajah expressed hope that, over time, the country would evolve and grow better.
"But you would think that over this passage of time, we would evolve. We would get better as a country. And I truly do believe we are better as a country," she said.
"But when I sit in this chamber, on some days, I have to question that. And today is one of those days," she added.
This comes as protests against mass immigration continue to gather momentum across Australia.
Several 'March for Australia' rallies were held across the country on September 1 protesting the growing number of foreigners overall -- though Indians were singled out as the protesters claimed that more Indians migrated to Australia since 2020 than Greeks or Italians since 1925.
Liberal senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has triggered a major controversy after she said the government was focusing on bringing more "Labor-leaning" migrant communities like Indians.
The March for Australia website said "Australia's unity and shared values have been eroded by policies and movements that divide us", adding that "mass migration has torn at the bonds that held our communities together".
The government said it did not support any kind of action that fans hate. "There is no place in our country for people who seek to divide and undermine our social cohesion. We stand with modern Australia against these rallies – nothing could be less Australian," Home affairs minister Tony Burke said.
She later took her statement back and said Australia has a "longstanding and bipartisan non-discriminatory migration policy".“Indian migrants, who have come to Australia, have a strong record of integration, embracing our values, working hard in many fields of endeavour, and joining the league of cherished and loyal Australian citizens. My own children share Indian ancestry, and I have strong friendships within the Indian and Sikh communities in the Northern Territory . I deeply value these connections," she said, clarifying her remarks
While speaking in the Australian Parliament , Rajah said that she migrated to Australia at the age of 12 and, now at 52, even as a member of the national parliament, "she still feel compelled to prove their Australianness."
"I am exhausted, as a migrant, from constantly having to justify my existence in this country," she said.
"I've been here for 40 years. I came to Australia when I was 12, and here I am, at the age of 52, as a parliamentarian in the Australian Parliament, still having to prove my Australianness," she added.
Pointing to the sprig of wattle on her lapel, Rajah drew a parallel between wattle with the "resilience of migrants" and said, "And I’m wearing, for goodness’ sake, a sprig of wattle on my lapel today. Why? Because it’s National Wattle Day — the 1st of September — a day to celebrate our unity, diversity, and resilience."
"And why wattle? Because there are over a thousand species of wattle, and it is one of the most resilient plants in our landscape. It can withstand fire after fire after fire — and it blooms. It comes back stronger. And isn’t that like the story of wave after wave of migrants to this country? Since World War II, every wave of migrants — the Greeks, the Italians, the Jews, the Vietnamese, and now the South Asians, including Indians, Sri Lankans, Malaysians, and people of colour like me — have had to be resilient. Because they’ve all encountered xenophobia. Every single one of them," she added.
However, Rajah expressed hope that, over time, the country would evolve and grow better.
"But you would think that over this passage of time, we would evolve. We would get better as a country. And I truly do believe we are better as a country," she said.
"But when I sit in this chamber, on some days, I have to question that. And today is one of those days," she added.
This comes as protests against mass immigration continue to gather momentum across Australia.
Several 'March for Australia' rallies were held across the country on September 1 protesting the growing number of foreigners overall -- though Indians were singled out as the protesters claimed that more Indians migrated to Australia since 2020 than Greeks or Italians since 1925.
Liberal senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has triggered a major controversy after she said the government was focusing on bringing more "Labor-leaning" migrant communities like Indians.
The March for Australia website said "Australia's unity and shared values have been eroded by policies and movements that divide us", adding that "mass migration has torn at the bonds that held our communities together".
The government said it did not support any kind of action that fans hate. "There is no place in our country for people who seek to divide and undermine our social cohesion. We stand with modern Australia against these rallies – nothing could be less Australian," Home affairs minister Tony Burke said.
She later took her statement back and said Australia has a "longstanding and bipartisan non-discriminatory migration policy".“Indian migrants, who have come to Australia, have a strong record of integration, embracing our values, working hard in many fields of endeavour, and joining the league of cherished and loyal Australian citizens. My own children share Indian ancestry, and I have strong friendships within the Indian and Sikh communities in the Northern Territory . I deeply value these connections," she said, clarifying her remarks
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