Transcript generated automatically by AI and may contain errors.
Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
I'm Daniel James and you're listening to 7am. This week, Pauline Hanson called for multiculturalism to be replaced with monoculturalism. At the same time, the Socceroos were capturing the hearts and minds of Australians everywhere on their biggest stage of all, the World Cup.
It's a team filled with players from multiple cultural backgrounds, and one that if Hanson's vision of the nation came to bear, simply wouldn't exist. Today, former Socceroo and refugee advocate Craig Foster on the team that's quietly challenging one of the most divisive debates in the country simply by taking the field. It's Friday, June 19. Craig, good to have you on 7am.
In the middle of Refugee Week, Pauline Hanson addressed the National Press Club and laid out her vision of Australia, a cultural hellscape where SBS would be abolished, the ABC subscripted, people who come here to make a life for themselves are told to leave their heritage behind and presumably only speak in their native tongue and hushed tones.
How does that equate to the Australia you grew up in and the country you proudly represented on the world stage?
Well, Pauline Hanson is trying to turn the country back to the 1920s, 1930s, if that, maybe even her vision's worse.
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Chapter 2: How does Pauline Hanson's vision contrast with multiculturalism in Australia?
And, you know, in the early 70s, Australia rightly said that people, you know, want to be able to respect people. their heritage and their ancestry. And what Pauline Hanson is doing is a frontal assault on Australian football, the game that I love. It's a frontal assault on the Socceroos, that's for sure. It's a frontal assault on Matildas.
Chapter 3: What role do the Socceroos play in the multicultural narrative of Australia?
And on the very meaning of Australia, in my view, and I think in millions of Australians in the football community, it's completely nonsensical to me, but it's also very, very dangerous. And Refugee Week comes at an important time during the World Cup when the Socceroos are beautifully representing Australia and talking about what Australia means to them and their families.
particularly those who weren't born here and the opportunity that Australia has provided. That's a vital part of our Australian national story and that's not going to be destroyed by Pauline Hanson.
And Australia is a very multicultural country and that's what makes it the best country in the world, in my opinion. It's the best country in the world because of that.
A refugee had a very different message from that of Pauline Hanson's when he spoke at a press conference about the value of multiculturalism in the country.
You have the whole world in one place and the Socceroos now is a representation of that.
How powerful were his words at this moment in time?
Really beautifully put. And I think immensely powerful because he's now on a stage where Australia is looking at the Socceroos. They've got the focal point on them. A marvellous result against Turkey only increases that focus. Australia's in love with this team. And
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Chapter 4: How does Craig Foster view the impact of Pauline Hanson's rhetoric on Australian football?
It's time to have that conversation about what they represent and who they represent and how they feel about being Australian. It's clear that they're immensely proud to wear the green and gold and wear the Australian emblem. But he also talks very passionately and beautifully about their background and about the story of his family.
You know, I have a story of there was war in my country, so my parents flee my country. And then Australia took us in through a humanitarian visa, you know. So that's how I was able to go to Australia. And many others have their way of going to Australia and their reasons. So, you know, for me...
It's a refugee week and it's a week that I would like to say to anybody that is misplaced all over the world that we are with you. And we are in a world stage right now in a big tournament.
Chapter 5: What stories do the Socceroos represent regarding Australia's refugee experience?
And just to tell you everything is possible.
And these are stories that, you know, are woven into the fabric of Australian life. You know, people who came here either for employment or people that came here fleeing conflict like Les Murray, my, you know, loved colleague and late friend and legendary broadcaster, or indeed people like Arwen Mabil or people like me who were born here. over multiple generations. Who cares?
There are important conversations to be had nationally about a whole range of things. But what I don't understand in Australia is why we can't just actually have the conversation about them without vilifying entire groups, which is just stupid. It makes no sense. you know, we should be beyond this by now. But I think our media environment, you know, has to be accountable for this as well.
Chapter 6: How can the Socceroos influence the national conversation on migration?
The over-concentration of media, you know, there's a whole range of factors. Also, let's say, you know, the Australian, multiple Australian governments, including this one, you know, leaving Australians behind. So we know that, you know, economic inequality, exclusion of people, they feel left out of the Australian dream. We've seen this in America. And what that does is it
provides very fertile ground for division and for hate and for vilification because it becomes about those people there are undeserving and I'm deserving. So all of these factors are coming together and we need to work out a way to have national conversations about a whole range of issues without delving into this sort of stuff.
Craig, if we look at the story of the current Australian team, Awar is one of four refugees representing a country that has been proudly multicultural throughout its history. More than half of the Socceroos in this team come from migrant backgrounds. What can you tell us about some of their stories?
Well, I mean, you've seen the, you know, Burundian refugee, Nestoria Nkunda as well. And, you know, staying in refugee camps for, you know, many, many years. And for Australians, it's difficult to understand. For me, it's difficult to understand. You know, I've been to the biggest refugee camp in the world, Cox's Bazaar twice. Obviously, you know, I worked with refugees. I played with refugees.
And I think this is the difference of the world, the game as well. We actually play with refugees, like, you know, every week, and including with Australia.
And so these guys left their countries for a whole range of reasons and ended up here, you know, came to love the country, love the opportunity that we provided to them, and they returned that, you know, with immense love and passion by wearing the national shirt.
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Chapter 7: What challenges do athletes face in addressing social issues?
No matter where you come from, football's for everyone. No matter where you come from, football's for everyone. No.
The idea of multiculturalism is not that we are a whole range of different countries. I think this is what Pauline Hanson is getting wrong, it seems to me. Anyway, you know, we are one country. I think what the Socceroos have done is encapsulated that perfectly, actually, in their pre-tournament video. And what they say is we have many different backgrounds but one purpose.
The Socceroos are the best representation right now of what Australia is. You've got people from all different kinds of backgrounds, you know, born not only all over Australia but all over the world.
Chapter 8: Can the Socceroos' success change perceptions of multiculturalism in Australia?
When you wear this shirt, you represent every Australian.
But, you know, this concept of trying to reduce Australia to just one kind of, you know, monolithic view of the world where everyone speaks only one language, you know, it's ridiculous. like, are we supposed to all just eat meat pies? Or like, what do we do? Do we stop all the Greek restaurants? Do we get rid of the Eroses? Do we get rid of, you know, the Turkish restaurants?
Like, where does the line end here? I'm just not clear. Like, what is monoculture supposed to actually mean? And again, our Australian values has to mean not leaving anyone out, not allowing people to be homeless. It has to be including everyone in the project of Australia. And I think we've forgotten that. I think we've been... You know, you look at the gas lobbies, what's happening.
You look at the billionaires lobbying. You know, all of these issues, I think, are a part of this puzzle that Australia is trying to work out right now. So, yes, Australians, every Australian... should have a shared purpose because we all, for different reasons, whether you started here or you ended here, it's of no consequence, but this country is doing something for all of us.
So that's why we love the Matildas and Socceroos so much because when we play this sport, we all feel together.
Coming up, can the Socceroos shift the dial in the migration conversation?
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Craig, this all comes at a time when anti-migrant rhetoric is on the rise in this country and around the globe. Do you think the stories of the Socceroos and the Matildas can make a difference in this debate?
I think it is making a difference. It's not the solution. It's not going to turn Australia around, but it is providing conversations. And again, these are conversations that have been long avoided as well. So what sport does is it brings us together in a shared space of
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