“Keep Australia, Australian” – Something to Think About for Aussie Voters
An anti-multiculturalism party, Rise Up Australia Party lead by Christian Pastor Daniel Nalliah gave Aussie voters something to think about as the party launched its first official election campaign.
Mr Nalliah said that though his party has diverse policy platform, it is strongly focused on controversial issues which the major political parties were afraid to tackle head-on.
"Keep Australia Australian" the party's political slogan goes. Mr Nalliah explained that the party agreed for a multi-ethnic Australia but not to a multicultural one.
"One of the greatest responsibilities that should be required of all visitors, residents and citizens is to integrate into our way of life, to celebrate many races in this great country but to have one culture."
In a report from SBS World News Australia, Mr Nalliah called for Australians to be more concern about the identity of the nation than the identity of the people coming in the country to live. He said that multiculturalism create migrant enclaves which poses great danger to the country's security and cultural identity.
Rise Up does have bolder political agenda which includes policy on supporting Australia's manufacturing industry, abolishing anti-discrimination laws and permitting corporal punishment.
He also emphasised that voters' disillusionment to the major political parties would send them strong support for the coming election.
"What the mainstream is not telling the general public is what they really think about situations and why they don't want to speak about it, because it's politically incorrect. But we have had discussions with the major parties and the feedback is very good, because this is an area none of them can step into because they believe they'll get branded as politically incorrect. However, we are willing to take the challenge to stand up."
Melanie Vassilou, who is running for the Victorian seat of Crisholm with the Rise Up, admitted that Rise Up can possibly come across as a racist party with its entire political agenda.
"We're a politically incorrect party and by speaking the truth we're always going to offend people. So I guess when you speak the truth on issues, that's going to come across as racist, it's going to come across politically incorrect, but I guess someone needs to speak out the truth and if it's going to come across as racist then so be it."
The Rise Up party might, indeed, come as racist for the majority of the Australians, politics expert from the University of Adelaide Dr Jenny Stock told SBS.
"The people who don't like xenophobia and racism don't even read their literature. Those who might respond because they feel insecure about all sorts of things would see them as upholding the rights of the white race, or whatever and see it in a more positive light. But the general public probably does see them as racist, yes."