Author: Shanthi Robertson

Shanthi Robertson, Western Sydney University and Kristine Aquino, University of Technology Sydney Population growth has profound impacts on Australian life, and sorting myths from facts can be difficult. This article is part of our series, Is Australia Full?, which aims to help inform a wide-ranging and often emotive debate. Western Sydney is one of the...

Dallas Rogers, Western Sydney University Australia’s refugee and border protection policies have been in the spotlight again this week as riots broke out at the Christmas Island detention centre following the unexplained death of an escaped asylum seeker. The incident happened just prior to a review of Australia’s human rights record at the UN Human...

Dallas Rogers, Western Sydney University and Shanthi Robertson, Western Sydney University The issue of Chinese investment in Australian property is an emotive one, peppered with lack of hard data and the spectre of xenophobia. The ABC’s Four Corners program “Great Wall of Money” this week took a wide look at the issue, profiling just who...

Shanthi Robertson, Western Sydney University and Martina Boese, La Trobe University This week’s Four Corners expose on the plight of underpaid international students at 7-Eleven franchises comes as a Senate inquiry investigates the rights of temporary migrant workers. The inquiry is looking at the vulnerability of migrant workers to exploitation; the compliance challenges of temporary...

Dallas Rogers, Western Sydney University Immigration is a contentious topic in many parts of the world, and the debate in Australia has been predictably framed around asylum seekers, the burdens on taxpayers and the protection of local jobs. This narrow focus has meant migrants are often divided into categories of “good” and “bad”. The reality...

Shanthi Robertson, Western Sydney University Recently leaked Immigration department documents reveal considerable rates of visa fraud in the Australian immigration system. This is of grave concern to the Australian public, especially as unemployment has just jumped to its highest level in twelve years. While some of the reporting on this issue has been unduly alarmist,...

Backpackers make up a hidden stream of labour in Australia. But what makes a ‘good’ migrant for policy-makers, and why is there a distinction? Siim Teller Shanthi Robertson, Western Sydney University In his short period in office so far, prime minister Tony Abbott has been taken to task on two issues with important neighbours: asylum...

Backpackers and international students provide a significant source of labour that is often long-term: but this is ignored by policy makers. Shanthi Robertson, Western Sydney University While 457 temporary visas are currently under political scrutiny, thousands of other temporary migrants are now able to work in Australia for extended periods - most notably through working...