Multicultural community’s backlash for Greens over Chinese visas comments

CHINESE Tasmanians are angry and hurt over comments about the increasing numbers of state-sponsored visa applications by Chinese businesses and skilled migrants, a community leader says.

Multicultural Council of Tasmania chairman Jafar Taheri, second from left, with board members James Chin, Raj Chopra and Yongbei Tang. Picture: MATT THOMPSON

GREENS leader Cassy O’Connor’s comments about the increasing numbers of state-sponsored visa applications by Chinese businesses and skilled migrants has left members of Tasmania’s Chinese community feeling angry and hurt, a community leader says.

Yongbei Tang, Multicultural Council of Tasmania treasurer, said she felt “very hurt” when she read the comments.

It was reported on Friday that Ms O’Connor said the State Government was “dangerously close” to the Chinese communist regime, citing an almost 900 per cent rise in the number of Tasmanian Government-sponsored visas in five years.

MORE: HODGMAN TOO ‘CLOSE’ TO CHINA, WARN GREENS

“[Premier] Will Hodgman is being played by the Chinese Communist party because he only understands the value of something if it’s got a dollar sign in front of it,” she said, warning the Chinese government was “aggressively expanding its influence” in the Pacific, Europe and Africa.

Ms Tang said other Chinese Tasmanians were angry and hurt over the comments.

“I have lived here for over 20 years,” Ms Tang said.

“I feel very hurt.”

Ms Tang said she did not agree with Ms O’Connor that Chinese expats were expected to be loyal to China first.

She said she and other Chinese Tasmanians appreciated Australian values and enjoyed the Tasmanian lifestyle.

Multicultural Council chairman Jafar Taheri said any politician with concerns about migration should look at the system, not single out particular groups, and he said Ms O’Connor’s comments published in the Mercury could result in Chinese people being harassed in public places.

“This sort of article puts pressure [on that community]. You get more reports … of people getting abused, harassed, in public places,” he said.

Mr Taheri also said any claims made about migrant groups should be backed up with evidence.

“We need facts about what we claim … things like suggesting indirectly that Chinese who come here, for example, are attached to the government, the Communist party,” he said.

Treasurer Peter Gutwein said country of origin was not a determining factor in approving visa applications.

“Applications prioritise business and skilled migrants who can provide critical support to areas where we have skills shortages, such as health care and agricultural sectors. It also generates jobs through the establishment of new businesses, as well as attracting international students.”