Encouraging people to become citizens is a dirty trick - just ask Hockey!
Every time I think that the Howard government has reached the pinnacle of hypocrisy and dirty politics, I'm in for a surprise. Today is no exception.
Joe Hockey accused the unions of using dirty "tricks to get workers to vote against the Howard government at the next election". Now that of itself is nothing new, the Howard government can't go a day without accusing the unions of something. But what have the unions done this time to upset Joe?
Well, they are engaging in the heinous act of "trying to persuade migrant workers to become citizens so that they can vote."
How absolutely dreadful! Encouraging people who are entitled to become Australian citizens to actually take up citizenship - a "dirty trick" indeed! While Joe was huffing and puffing about unions, he obviously forgot about the ads that the government has been running, encouraging people to do exactly the same thing.
Remember those advertisements that "there has never been a better time to become an Australian citizen"? The ones sponsored by the federal government and paid for by the Australian taxpayers? How about the Australian Government Citizenship Initiative website - http://www.citizenship.gov.au/, which reminds us that the Australian citizenship is "much more than a ceremony" and tells us that:
"Australian citizenship symbolises our unity as a nation. It represents commitment to Australia and its people, the values we share and our common future. It also symbolises the sense of belonging to the country where we have been born or where we have decided to make our home."
How very inspirational. Also inspirational are the Department of Immigration media releases following citizenship ceremonies which state that "taking up the privilege of citizenship was a great expression of loyalty and commitment to the Australian way of life".
But when it is a union encouraging migrants to show their "commitment to Australia and its people", "the values we share" and "to the Australian way of life" - it's a dirty trick, according to Hockey, an unworthy attempt to throw out the Howard government. Citizens can vote, you see. And if they can vote, they might vote against the Howard government. And that's just not on!
Thanks for reading
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