From migration to AUKUS, more politicians are speaking out

The Coalition's former immigration spokesperson has spoken out about the fear in immigrant communities as the rise of rhetoric against migration reaches a new peak in Australia, including from his own party.

Paul Scarr, dumped as opposition immigration spokesman by Angus Taylor, has warned about the damage caused by hardline language on immigration, telling this column that ethnic communities he engages with are increasingly fearful about their place in Australia.

"People need to understand the impact of this rhetoric on different communities. It is hurting people. It is hurting communities. Nearly every event I go to, leaders are having to reassure members of their communities," Scarr said.

He said migrant communities had so much gratitude for the opportunities Australia has provided and members want to be seen as individuals, as families.

"I see how hard people are working in their communities — as nurses, doctors, engineers, bus drivers, world-class researchers, workers in factories, entrepreneurs, cleaners — contributing in so many different jobs," he said.

After completing paid work, many give back to the community as volunteers.

"It is inspiring. It should be celebrated. How do you think they feel when their contribution is questioned? It is heartbreaking," he warned.

Scarr said last year Australia settled our one millionth refugee.

"It is such a special milestone. It is part of who we are as Australians," he said. "Our country should be celebrating that we attract the best and the brightest from all over the world. And yet there are these voices that divide and disrespect. It is shameful. It has a deep impact."

Scarr said despite the hard-edged language levelled at certain migrant cohorts, he takes heart from community leaders.

"I am inspired by so many of the community leaders who are showing such resilience and leadership. They provide an example for all Australians."

A lightning rod issue

Immigration continues to be a lightning rod issue across the world.

Over the weekend, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth criticised European nations over migration for allowing what he described as an "invasion" on their shores, during a D-Day anniversary speech in France.

Hegseth was speaking in Normandy 82 years after allied forces stormed French beaches to liberate Nazi-occupied north-western Europe in 1944.

"Sadly, today, different European beaches are stormed by different dangerous ideologies," Hegseth said. "Beaches in Spain, in Italy, in Greece and Bulgaria. Boats and men arrive. When will European capitals do something about that invasion?"

Hegseth's speech demonstrates the escalating extreme rhetoric around immigration that is influencing our own domestic debates.

Backbencher Andrew McLachlan broke ranks on immigration policy recently in this column too, raising deep concerns that the Coalition's new policy would cause damage among diaspora communities, where people would be unable to retain their previous citizenship if they chose to become Australian citizens.

The Coalition's focus on migration has been seen as an attempt to arrest the bleeding of its vote to One Nation.

Queensland Liberal MP Garth Hamilton, one of One Nation's fiercest critics, was blunt in his assessment of the party's rise.

"One Nation haven't been struck by a fit of composure, or found their inner competence. Australians have just got fed up because no one was listening," he said. "Scrutiny is populism's natural enemy and it is starting to do its job. We just need to focus on being the best version of ourselves. Time is on our side."

Hamilton is banking on two things: the populism of One Nation not being enough to carry it through the scrutiny both the coalition and Labor face on things like costings, candidates and policy.

Secondly, the Liberals' looking and acting like a viable alternative. That means not going from dog whistle to megaphone, but offering an approach on migration that takes into account productivity, regional jobs, housing and infrastructure.

Politicians speaking up

Scarr isn't the only politician to put his head above the parapet.

On the Labor side, former cabinet minister and NSW MP Ed Husic caused headaches for the government, breaking ranks to call for a review of AUKUS.

His intervention came after Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles returned from security talks with his US counterpart in Singapore, and announced Australia would be getting three second-hand submarines instead of one new vessel and two used.

Husic used Labor's caucus meeting last Tuesday to argue that the revised deal offered by the US should trigger a review of support for AUKUS.

He doubled down on his criticism of the agreement, which was struck under the Morrison government, appearing on ABC Afternoon Briefing with me, saying: "If this was a better option, then why wasn't it the first option?"

Husic's comments clearly annoyed the government, with the PM's factional ally and defence industry minister Pat Conroy doing the media rounds and labelling Husic as disingenuous.

Rather than shutting down the issue, Conroy's public rebuke gave the story more prominence and resulted in Husic capping off the parliamentary week by describing his treatment from some colleagues as a pile-on.

Speaking to me on the ABC on Thursday, he said: "It's right for me to be able to ask questions and not necessarily have the pile-on that we did."

While some within Labor are keen to frame Husic's intervention as a reaction to his demotion from cabinet, Husic does appear to be one of the few Labor MPs prepared to speak up on a range of issues, including criticising Israel over the Gaza conflict.

From AUKUS to gambling

When the government finally announced its gambling reforms earlier this year, three years after the late Labor MP Peta Murphy chaired an inquiry into the online industry, it was largely left to independent MPs Kate Chaney and David Pocock to criticise what they described as a watered-down response.

Labor's Mike Freelander had previously called for a blanket ban on gambling ads.

Late last year, he told the ABC: "If there was a conscience vote given in the parliament, I've got no doubt we'd be able to ban gambling advertising, because I think there's a general consensus we need to act on it, that it does cause a lot of harm."

Yet when the PM announced the reforms, which stopped short of a ban on gambling ads, Freelander welcomed the news and in a statement said: "I know there is much more to do, however these reforms are a step in the right direction."

Many MPs privately expressed frustration at the fact the reforms seemed to ignore most of the 31 recommendations made by the cross-party inquiry led by Murphy, including calling for a full ban on all gambling advertising.

The command and control discipline enforced across Labor's caucus has meant Husic cuts a lonely figure, with most other Labor MPs only willing to offer public criticism if it is anonymous.

When Anthony Albanese ran for Labor leader after the 2019 election loss, he said, "Australians don't want someone who just utters talking points."

Yet it seems he now runs a government where the talking points have been replaced by tumbleweeds.

Patricia Karvelas is host of ABC News Afternoon Briefing at 4pm weekdays on ABC News Channel, co-host of the weekly Party Room podcast with Fran Kelly and host of politics and news podcast Politics Now.