Australian minister faces criticism over remarks on migrants

SYDNEY, May 19: Australia’s immigration minister’s comments on refugees drew sharp reactions from Labour Party and the small left-wing opposition Greens Party. Peter Dutton brought border security and immigration to the center of the 2016 election campaign, warning that resettling “illiterate and innumerate” refugees would strain the social safety network and take Australian jobs. “They won’t be numerate or literate in their own language, let alone English. These people would be taking Australian jobs, there’s no question about that,” Dutton said when asked about the proposed increase in the humanitarian intake quota. “For many of them that would be unemployed, they would languish in unemployment queues ... and the rest of it so there would be huge cost and there’s no sense in sugar-coating that, that’s the scenario,” he told Sky News late on Tuesday. Labour leader Bill Shorten blasted Dutton and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull for lowering the tone of the election. “Mr Dutton didn’t just insult refugees when he made those comments. He insulted the millions of migrants who’ve contributed to making this a truly great country,” Shorten told reporters.   Reuters