New Zealanders who move to Australia report higher levels of discrimination than most other migrant groups, and resent their adopted country, according to a new report.
Kiwis are among the stand out groups of migrants who feel the least sense of belonging in Australia. Photo: AFP
The Australians Today report, which was based on a survey of more than 10,000 people, found most migrants were very satisfied with their lives in Australia but Kiwis and South Sudanese stood out as the two groups who felt the least sense of belonging and experienced the most discrimination.
Report author Professor Andrew Markus said many New Zealanders who held Special Category Visas felt they were given a "harsh deal" in Australia, because they could live and work in Australia but were not eligible to vote, receive welfare, or other benefits.
"At one level they should know what they're getting themselves into because it's very clearly explained to them," he said.
"Nonetheless people feel resentment having worked in this country for years, paid their taxes, contributed to the community and then having difficulties and not being able to get Centrelink benefits.
"They also resent the fact that an Australian going to New Zealand does qualify for full citizenship but if you come the other way, you don't."
Professor Markus said the level of colour prejudice towards South Sudanese migrants was "off the scale", with a "disturbing" 80 percent of respondents saying they had experienced discrimination.
Both New Zealand and South Sudanese migrants also reported low levels of trust, with Kiwis holding a very little trust in political parties (10 percent) and the South Sudanese reporting the lowest level of trust in the police (24 percent) out of any other group.
Tensions recently flared on the streets of Melbourne when about 100 men of African, Islander and Caucasian appearance converged on the Moomba Festival and clashed with police.
The study found a high level of negativity toward Muslim women. Photo: AFP
Muslim women more likely to face discrimination than man
The survey, conducted by the Scanlon Foundation and Monash University, found a high level of negativity towards Muslims, with women twice as likely to face discrimination as men.
Professor Markus said one of the most disturbing stories involved a Melbourne tram driver who refused to allow a heavily pregnant woman on board when he looked up and noticed she was wearing Muslim garb.
"The tram stops and she leaves the curb to get onto the tram but the driver sees her and takes off," he said.
"And as she looks up she sees the other passengers laughing.
"These are the sort of disturbing things that are going on in Australia."
He said the woman was on her way to hospital for a check up but was so upset by the experience, she went home instead.
Many of the Muslim respondents complained of being stereotyped and misrepresented by the media, who had little interest in actually talking to the community.
"The reality of Muslim Australians is that Muslims in Australia are as diverse as the whole Australian population and often I find there's a lack of understanding that most of the Muslims in Australia are born in this country," Professor Markus said.
Despite the survey results, Professor Markus said Australia was still one of the most successful countries when it came to integrating migrants, but he said there would always be rejection and intolerance.
He said immigration was a difficult process and the survey found migrants were incredibly optimistic about their prospects when they first arrived in Australia but become less so as time passed.
"In the first generation it's a struggle and in the first generation many find they cannot achieve their dreams, so it's more a question of the second and third generation and the way they make their way in Australian society," he said.
- ABC