AUSTRALIAN POLITICAL RHETORIC

Australian Political Rhetoric

Introduction3

Theoretical Perspective3

The Beneficiaries of the Research Project4

Aims and objectives4

Research Question4

Target Population4

Review of Literature5

Problem/Hypothesis6

Methodology6

Primary Research6

Research Method7

Literature Search7

Reliability and Validity8

Proposed Method(s) of Data Collection9

Data analysis/Interpretation9

References11

Australian Political Rhetoric

Introduction

Refugees fleeing persecution for safety are met with unjustified opposition and negative political rhetoric from political leaders in Australia. Examples of such disparaging discourse was sourced from the Parliament of Australia website (2012, p.3) naming asylum seekers as 'unauthorized', 'illegal boat people', 'illegal aliens' and 'queue jumpers'. Regardless of moral and ethical implications there are ongoing proposals for reforms about 'processing' asylum seekers and attempts to protect Australia's borders such as amendment to the Migration Act and the Border Protection Bill 2001. Australian politics justify such 'protection' with reference to asylum seekers as 'wealthy and possible criminals' (Manne 2001 p.1) hence public polling 'to send 'boat people' straight back without assessing their claims' (Parliament of Australia 2012, p.3). Further rhetoric by previous Australian Prime Minister John Howard stating 'we decide who comes into this country and the circumstances in which they come' (Australian Politics) confirms the statement by Nevin (2010, p.4) that 'Australians' historically embedded fears of the unknown have been fuelled and exploited for political gain'. Discourse stemming to popularism captures the public imagination including homeowners leasing rental properties to such a marginalised focus group.

Theoretical Perspective

Foucault's ideas on govern mentality highlight both the practices by which modern governments exercise sovereignty over their populations, and the rationalities by which these practices appear 'normal'.

In looking at the modern state, Foucault develops the terms 'bio power' and 'bio politics' to denote a specific form of governmental power which addresses the administration, control and regulation of human beings as members of populations: their 'health, sanitation, birth-rate, longevity, race' (Foucault, 1997, p. 73). For Foucault, the economy, population and security are the central characteristics of the modern governmental zed state.

The Beneficiaries of the Research Project

The beneficiariesof the research project include Asylum Seekers, Housing workers and the community by creating social cohesion and not discrimination.

Aims and objectives

The objectives of the study are:

To assess the impacts of politic rhetoric in order to assist asylum seekers

To promote improvements in their circumstances

To provide an evidence base for policy changes

To create a more informed public

To make sense of inequalities creating a us versus them mentality

Research Question

The research will address the following question:

What is the impact of Australian political rhetoric about Asylum Seekers impact on the attainment of housing?

Target Population

The target population will include

policy writers / decision makers

government and its organisations

service providers

general public

Review of Literature

Billig (1988; Billig et al., 1988) indicated two well-known comprehensions of racism both of them are developed from concerns of enlightenment with equality and rationality: as a subject racism is subjective and based on judgments which are irrational; and racism is an unjustified and irrational behaviour. According to Figgou (2002) multifaceted understanding of racism in the light of the proves of social psychology encompasses about two teams, however, racism, also, is a generalization which is irrational regarding groups, ...