"Boat People"

In the last couple of years, we have seen an increased focus by media around immigration and the arrival of so called ´boat people´ to Australia. There are numerous media articles expressing the concern of illegal migrants entering the shores of our country and how human smuggling and the trade of ´boat people´ is out of control.

The picture painted by the media on how people are coming to Australia via ´illegal´ means such as internationally organised criminal networks and ´people smuggling syndicates´, has succeeded in creating a fear around the issue of migration. It has successfully created a ´us against them´, where the migrant is seen as someone that does not belong here and that threatens our sovereignty. The use of Christmas Island to detain those who come to Australia unauthorised, is viewed in the media as being the best and only way to handle the situation. Yet, what is not provided by most articles in our news papers is the fact that Christmas Island alongside other detention centres such as Willawood, are more like prison facilities than anything else. The constant association of criminal networks with migrants fosters a sense of refuges and asylum seekers to be criminal. The referral to illegal immigration further links the desperate need for protection as being a criminal activity; when in fact, it is a human right!

What the media fails to provide is accurate information on why these people are leaving their nation state. There are rarely any notes on civil war or national disasters to explain people’s motivations for coming to Australia under such risky circumstances as being transported by sea for several months. It becomes evident that the focus is on the criminal activity rather on the actual reasons behind unauthorised migration to Australia.

Here, the media, crime and politics nexus in relation to ´boat people´ is also evident in the sense that it is a widely discussed topic and a constant issue on the policy agenda. Terms such as ´tougher policies´ are a common fact and do clearly indicate to the general public that the issue of ´illegal´ migration has a firm position on the agenda due to its seriousness and threat to Australian borders.

Finally, regarding this particular issue it is clear that the media has a strong influence in terms of public fear and perception around migration. It is also obvious that the media portrayal has a strong focus on the criminal aspect of the issue rather than giving a holistic view on what is really taking place.

References:

McGovern, A 2011, ´The Daily News: The crime-media relationship´, Crim2027 Lecture notes.

Taylor, L 2010, ´Tough on boat people´, Sydney Morning Herald

Allard, T 2010, ´Boat people trade out of control´, Sydney Morning Herald