(This article was originally written for UniPollWatch in April 2016)
A lack of government support for the integration of refugees is creating divisions in the Dunkley community, says a local priest.
Phil Hurwood, a priest at St Luke’s Anglican Church in Frankston, says that cultural division is being created in the community by the government’s inaction.
“The government could do more to help integration,” says Hurwood.
He wants the government to encourage ‘grass-roots’ efforts to bring together the community.
“A lot has to happen at grassroots level”, says Hurwood. “It’s up to us, the people, to embrace our nation.”
Bringing together the diverse community should be a key focus in the upcoming election according to Hurwood.
“You need politicians that are prepared to represent all the people, even if they don’t agree with all the people.”
Hurwood believes current Dunkley member Bruce Billson excels at this.
“He’s been someone who tries to stand for the whole community. Generally people think well of him. There’s a sense that he is there for whole community.”
Bruce Billson, the former Liberal minister for small business, is retiring from politics at the next election.
The new Liberal candidate is Chris Crewther, whom Hurwood says has visited the church multiple times.
“The first time he came here would have been before the pre-selection. He was just chatting with people and being friendly. He wasn’t campaigning.”
According to Hurwood, the government’s overemphasis on multiculturalism risks nurturing divisions within the community of the Dunkley electorate.
“It’s important for people to learn English and social customs here,” he says. “As well as that, we can be enriched by the social customs that they bring with them.”
The large number of refugees from Islamic countries is causing concern for his parishioners, he says.
“Many of those countries have a very different understanding of how life should operate,” says Hurwood. “It is quite alien to what we’re familiar with.”
He believes that a fear of offending people prevents those unfamiliar with Islam from learning about it.
“If you raise issues or questions about Islam, you may be called phobic about that.”
Even approaching the issue with courtesy and respect is met with offense according to Hurwood.
“We need to be an open society. We need to have a dialogue with all communities.”
He sees an unwillingness to listen as an obstruction in cultural understanding.
“People need to listen to other people, even if they don’t necessarily agree with them.”
