Dog, meet whistle.

The problem with this ‘policy’ is it reinforces and gives vent to misconceived stereotypes - promoted by Tele/Sky/2GB, etc - about the dole-bludging immigrant.

Like they just want to come here and kick back (on $34.97/day) whilst the rest of us sweat it out. https://twitter.com/AlanTudgeMP/status/1313942043006128129">https://twitter.com/AlanTudge...

We (and I mean humans, not just Aussies) have always been suspcious of strangers. It’s in our DNA.

We hated wogs. Many nonnas in Leichhardt never learned English.

After wogs, it was Asians. Hanson was first elected on her anti-Asian platform.[2/7]

But assimilation/ integration just happens. Immigrants’ kids go to school and learn English and - bam - within one generation... [3/7]

So many xenophobes (I really think it’s that, rather than superiority-driven-racism) on this website want immigrants to “be australian” like that actually means something. [4/7] https://twitter.com/madeinnoosa/status/1307209250746241025">https://twitter.com/madeinnoo...

If you actually cared about integration, the best way to encourage it is to be friendly. Don’t demonise a culture/ population for wanting the comfort and security of being close to their own. [5/7]

Are the stats telling the govt that immigrants are not making an effort to learn English? I looked and I couldn’t find any. I would be surprised if that were the case.

Having made the herculean effort to come here, why would they want to limit their opportunities like that?[6/7]

If there is no data to suggest this is an issue which needs to be addressed, then this is nothing more than showing xenophobes that ‘this Gov’t has your back’.

If that’s the motivation then it achieves the opposite of the policy’s professed goal of increased ‘social cohesion’.