Top ASEAN leader responds to Australia’s anti-migration debate
The Secretary General of ASEAN is “optimistic” despite rising anti-migration rhetoric in Australia. He responds to the rise of One Nation and international student visa changes, in an exclusive interview with InDaily.
Association of Southeast Asian Nations Secretary General Dr Kao Kim Hourn says that changing opinions on migration in Australia is “natural”, “but as long as it’s in equilibrium, it should be okay”.
Speaking exclusively to InDaily at the Australia-ASEAN Business Forum in Adelaide today, the Secretary General said he hoped strong relationships within the region would continue despite a migration shakeup.
Migration reform remains a hot topic in Australian politics, with Home Affairs Minister Tony Bourke earlier this month unveiling a ‘backpacker ballot’ and migration cuts.
But the Secretary General said he was “optimistic”.
“I’m sure the leadership in Australia is very wise,” he said.
“People of Australia would also know how this country has been built over so many decades, so it’s up to the people of Australia and it’s up to the leadership in this country.
“But I would say that the relations between ASEAN and Australia have been defined by many shared interests, and we hope that the shared interest will continue growing, particularly in the evolving political economic landscape in the region.
“After all, we have a lot of shared economic, political security interests between the two sides.”
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Asked about rising anti-migrant sentiment from parties like One Nation, the Secretary General recognised that “Australia is a multi-party system; it is a democratic society”.
“Australia has gone through a long period of nation building. It’s natural to have this pendulum swing back and forth,” he said.
“But as long as it’s in equilibrium, it should be okay.
“We have to be optimistic. The world is full of many challenges, and if there’s hope, there’s a future.”
His comments come after news emerged last week that Adelaide University was about 4000 international students short of its targets and is “deeply worried” about the impacts of migrant student visa changes.
This includes Burke’s changes to reduce net overseas migration, including a change that would stop international students from bringing dependents with them to Australia in the future.
The Secretary General said Australia remained “attractive” to international students from Southeast Asia.
“Australia is already known for providing quality international education,” he said.
“You have produced so many alumni over the years from great universities in this country and I’m sure young people want to come here for their studies.
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“I believe Australia is a welcome place for foreign students, international students, and you have that track record.”
‘We have to work from strength to strength’
The Secretary General is in Adelaide to promote Southeast Asian trade and investment opportunities and to build relationships with Australian business and political leaders.
While he is attending the conference, he said much of the action happened on the sidelines in meetings with Australian and South Australian leaders. This morning he met SA Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis and the Secretary General said he had a productive meeting with Business Council of Australia CEO Bran Black.
The forum was a “platform where we can engage each other constructively in exchanging information, exchanging practical ideas”.
“Particularly on the latest developments of what has been happening in the ASEAN region, what has been happening in Australia and the growing, dynamic relations between the two sides.”
Australia is ASEAN’s first dialogue partner with more than 50 years of longstanding relations. This year, Australia and ASEAN celebrate their fifth anniversary of a strategic partnership.
The Secretary General said that South Australian critical mineral exports were becoming important to sustain the Southeast Asian economy, while the region could learn much from Australian food security.
“We’re looking at the areas where we can work together. We have to work from strength to strength,” he said.
He said that he wanted to see more investment from Australia into Southeast Asia, citing the $100 billion ASEAN power grid project as an opportunity.
But the digital economy will be “critical”, he said.
“It is a new key driver of the ASEAN economy,” he said.
“I would like to work not only among our member states, but eventually with Australia because we stand to benefit from our close and more engaged cooperation.”
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