Good Morning! Peter Dutton Says Illiterate Refugees Will Steal Your Job

Peter “Potato” Dutton, the current Immigration Minister, appeared on oldmate network Sky News last night and attacked Greens proposals to up the refugee intake to 50,000, claiming that the resultant migrants would be “illiterate and innumerate” and would “take Australian jobs“.

.@PeterDutton_MP says more refugees will take Australian’s jobs or languish in unemployment queues #ausvotes #pmlive https://t.co/TdFlaQc8Tb

— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) May 17, 2016

He was responding to Sky host Paul Murray, who was very concerned that Afghan refugees were finding it difficult to land employment, and that the taxpayer would have to subsidise them. 

Dutton linked this to the CFMEU and the Labor Party, somehow, implying that support for those fleeing war and disaster overseas are a liability because…unions? And jobs? His point wasn’t entirely clear, but howling about jobs stolen by undeserving migrants is certainly the overwhelming narrative here.

There’s certainly some difficulty here for Dutton. As Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young points out, there’s some clouded messaging here – are the detention centres meant to stop drownings at sea, or are they meant to stop refugees coming here to steal our jobs? 

Turnbull says camps needed to stop boat journeys, Peter Dutton says he doesn’t like refugees because they might be illiterate. Which is it?

— Sarah Hanson-Young (@sarahinthesen8) May 17, 2016

People are not liking Dutton’s comments generally. But hey – at least it isn’t dogwhistling. Dutton is being uncharacteristically clear on why he doesn’t want refugees in Australia:

Peter Dutton peruses dog whistle collection, picks a favourite from the 50s. ‘these people… Illiterate… they’ll take our jobs.’ #auspol

— Nick Earls (@nickearls) May 17, 2016

Perhaps Peter Dutton will promise to build a wall before the campaign is finished #ausvotes

— Katharine Murphy (@murpharoo) May 17, 2016

It’s scary that we’ve only just started the campaigns and @PeterDutton_MP is already resorting to the politics of bigotry.

— Retain this. (@brayshawjb) May 17, 2016

Refugees will take Australian jobs. And languish in unemployment queues. MAKE UP YOUR MIND PDUDDS https://t.co/QbHueP5uLJ

— Dave Earley (@earleyedition) May 17, 2016

44 days until the election on July 2. Can’t waaaaaaaaaaait for more of this, hey?