A Child Soldier Turned Lawyer Won’t Be Voting For The Libs Thanks To Peter Dutton
"This election they won't be getting my support."
This year Deng Thiak Adut was chosen to read the Australia Day address by NSW Premier Mike Baird. You may remember Adut from this story: he’s the Sudanese refugee and former child soldier who has been living in Australia since he was 15 years old and is now a successful lawyer in Sydney.
Adut’s story went viral after he was featured in a promotional video for the Western Sydney University, where he studied. The video has since amassed more than 2.2-million views.
The other thing about Adut is that he had been a staunch Liberal supporter since he cast his first vote in Australia – until now. What changed his mind was Immigration Minister Peter Dutton’s recent comments about refugees.
Dutton’s statement to Sky News this week not only included a claim that refugees “would be taking Australian jobs” but also “won’t be numerate or literate in their own language let alone English.” If those things seem to be an unlikely combination you’re not the only person thinking that.
“I have voted Liberal ever since I could vote, but this election they won’t be getting my support,” Adut told Fairfax, going on to explain that “they are actively trying to deter the public from empathising with refugees.”
Adut, who fought in Sudan’s long-running civil war before escaping to Kenya and arriving in Australia in 1998, now helps Sudanese refugees in Sydney navigate the Australian legal system and advocates for refugees as “people who can contribute to the Australian culture and economy”.
“Most newcomers Australians will pay back their debts to Australia quickly if they are given opportunity,” he told Fairfax yesterday. “It may be a few years, like in my case – I am now a practicing lawyer, giving back to the community.”
According to a study by Dutton’s own department, refugees who settle in Australia are not the job-stealing dole-bludgers the Immigration Minister depicts. The report says they “display strong entrepreneurial qualities”, “bring significant benefits to Australia” and “will play an increasingly important role in regional development in Australia”.
While defended by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull as an “outstanding minister”, Dutton has drawn widespread condemnation for his comments. Opposition Leader Bill Shorten likened him to Pauline Hanson, while Today’s Karl Stefanovic called for Dutton to apologise in an impassioned monologue on morning TV.
(h/t: Sydney Morning Herald)