Usman Khawaja’s plea after Peter Dutton links increased house prices with rising immigration rates

Usman Khawaja does not buy the suggestion immigrants are making life tougher for others, making clear his stance in a week Opposition leader Peter Dutton linked increased house prices with rising immigration rates.

As he lives out his pledge to help new Australians get a better life, Usman Khawaja does not buy the suggestion these people are making life tougher for others.

The Test batsman this week visited Brisbane’s Woodridge North State School, which counts around 100 different nationalities in its student body, as part of the Usman Khawaja Foundation’s push to help refugee, immigrant, Indigenous and children of low-socio economic backgrounds with cricket and educational support.

The students hung on his every word as he talked about his journey from being born in Islamabad, Pakistan and emigrating with his family to Australia at age four.

Khawaja’s snappy yarns, dotted with humour and his trademark grin belie the early challenges he faced living in western Sydney in an era less culturally sensitive than today.

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Queensland and Australian opener Usman Khawaja says politics is personal, but he is passionate about immigration. Picture: Tertius Pickard

“It is a very relatable story for a lot of immigrants,’’ Khawaja said.

“We left a lifestyle in Pakistan which was pretty good. But my family really struggled when we came to Australia. Things were very expensive. I remember drinking milk and my mum saying “don’t drink so much milk – it is expensive’’ and for us it was.’’

Immigration has become a central theme of election debates with Opposition leader Peter Dutton linking increased house prices with rising immigration rates, which he has promised to slash if he wins next week’s election.

Khawaja made no specific mention of either party, adding “politics is a very personal thing and I would never push on anyone else’’ but concedes “immigration is right at my heart.’’

Usman Khawaja was born in Pakistan, but emigrated to Australia with his family when he was four. He’s now played 80 Tests for Australia. Picture: AFP

“When I hear immigration get the blame for house prices which I fundamentally know is not true because housing prices went through the roof when no immigrants were coming in during Covid …

“You hear stuff like that and it disappoints me because Australia has been built on the back of immigration. Unless you are first nations or a person of Aboriginal descent we are all immigrants one way or another depending on how far back you want to go.

“Australia’s greatest asset is its immigrant community which has come into Australia and contributed to Australia and making it the great country that it is.’’

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Usman Khawaja dominated in Australia’s Test series against Sri Lanka earlier this year. Picture: AFP

Khawaja recently had a major showdown with Queensland Cricket’s head of cricket Joe Dawes but declined to comment on whether the matter has been resolved though he is expected to play for the Bulls next season.

He has just been on a Bali holiday where he spent time facing the left-armed deliveries of AFL legend Buddy Franklin after they had a chance meet-up and decided on a hit.

Khawaja’s foundation, with the backing of Cricket Australia, is making strong progress and he is hoping it will eventually have its own day at the Brisbane Test like the Jane McGrath Day in Sydney.

“It is really nice to see when you are in a room full of kids in a school and there is so many beautiful faces around, we did not have that as much when I was growing up in Australia so its really lovely.

“I have experiences growing up where I have been called names and the classic curry muncher. There was a lack of understanding. Obviously Australia is growing and changing.’’

Originally published as Usman Khawaja’s plea after Peter Dutton links increased house prices with rising immigration rates