Asylum policy, boat people and political discourse: boats, votes and asylum in Australia and Italy

This book compares the policies of Australia and Italytowards boat people who have arrived in the two countries since the early1990s. While the regular and varied inflow of immigrants arriving at nationalairports, ferry terminals and train stations is seldom witnessed by the public,the arrival of boat people is often played out in the media and consequentlyattracts disproportionate political and public attention. Both Australiaand Italy  facedsimilar dilemmas, but the nature of political debate on the issue, the types ofstrategies introduced, and the effects that policy changes had on boat peoplediverged considerably. This book argues that contrasting migration pathdependencies, disparate political values within the Left, and varyinginternational obligations best explain the different approaches taken bythe two countries to boat people.