Neil Para talks

18/10/2026

Please share it if you are an advocator in this area.

𝐒𝐭𝐢𝐠𝐦𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐨𝐭𝐲𝐩𝐞𝐬

Recently, I visited a car dealership to enquire about a "made in China" car. The dealer and I agreed to meet again later.

During our conversation, I mentioned that if I had to work overtime, I might not be able to make it to our meeting.

He replied, “Indians and Sri Lankans are always hungry for overtime.”

I simply responded, “Yes, Chinese people might think that way, but it is not true. As full-time employees, we have a responsibility to keep the business running, especially when employers cannot find casual workers to cover shifts.”

He then reacted angrily, saying, “What the f**k? Who is Chinese here?”

My response was simple: “I thought you were Chinese because you are selling Chinese cars.”

𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐦𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐨𝐫 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝.

The dealer assumed that Indians and Sri Lankans are always eager to work overtime. In response, I made an assumption about his nationality based on the cars he was selling.

This is how stereotypes work. We often judge people based on assumptions rather than taking the time to understand them as individuals.

𝐒𝐭𝐢𝐠𝐦𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐨𝐭𝐲𝐩𝐞𝐬 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬. 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭, 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧-𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐮𝐬 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐚 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐲.

18/10/2026

I was in the pharmacy today, had to wait 15-20 minutes. I had a silly thought. If Pauline or Angus entered the pharmacy and asked all immigrants to leave immediately, the pharmacy would have few customers but no body could save their medicines. It is not joke.

17/10/2026

𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐈𝐄𝐕 𝐗 & 𝐒𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐘𝐨𝐮.

On October 19, marks 𝟐𝟓 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐈𝐄𝐕 𝐗 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐝𝐲, the deadliest asylum seeker boat disaster in Australia's history. 353 beautiful souls, including 146 innocent children, lost their lives in international waters. They were simply searching for safety, peace, and a future.

ᴀꜱ ᴡᴇ ᴘᴀᴜꜱᴇ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴍᴇᴍʙᴇʀ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ᴛᴏᴅᴀʏ, ᴍʏ ʜᴇᴀʀᴛ ɪꜱ ʜᴇᴀᴠʏ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴇᴍᴏʀʏ ᴏꜰ ᴀʟʟ ᴛʜᴏꜱᴇ ᴡʜᴏ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ᴍᴀᴅᴇ ɪᴛ ᴛᴏ ꜱʜᴏʀᴇ. ᴡᴇ ᴍᴜꜱᴛ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ꜰᴏʀɢᴇᴛ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ɴᴀᴍᴇꜱ, ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ꜱᴛᴏʀɪᴇꜱ, ᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ꜰᴀᴍɪʟɪᴇꜱ ʟᴇꜰᴛ ʙᴇʜɪɴᴅ.

Reflecting on this tragedy also fills me with immense gratitude for the gift of life and the angels who walked alongside my own family.

When we were in our darkest years of visa limbo, facing hopelessness, without the right to work or healthcare, it was the extraordinary people of Australia who kept us alive.

To Ballarat Rural Australians for Refugees (RAR), the beautiful of , news media of Australia and the countless organisations, neighbors, and everyday individuals who stepped up: Thank you.

You did not just give us food, shelter, and clothing, you gave us . You 𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐮𝐬, advocated for us, and showed us what true looks like. You proved that knows no borders.

𝐁𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮, my family is safe today. Because of you, we can stand strong and continue to advocate for the thousands of refugees who are still waiting for their own light at the end of the tunnel.

We remember the lives lost on SIEV X. And we thank every single one of you who chooses , , and love over fear.
With all my love and endless gratitude,
Neil Para & family 🙏🏽❤️



Photo credit: Danielle D. (Date: 18/10/2023)

17/10/2026

Reema El Qassem is carving new pathways for disabled women in wheelchair basketball. She is the first person playing non verbal and wearing her cultural way.
.. 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝, 𝐄𝐥 𝐐𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐦 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐧-𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐣𝐚𝐛-𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭, 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐚𝐦𝐞 ...

The Australia Today

Source: ABC News

17/10/2026

Sydney, I am coming this month.

17/10/2026

Please don't accuse me of being antisemitic simply because I criticise the Israeli government.

Does anyone see a difference between Hi**er and Netanyahu?

or

By looking at what is happening in Palestine, will you start arguing with me if I say, 'Hi**er actually saved his country'?

A bad man looks better than someone today when comparing Hi**er with Netanyahu.

16/10/2026

𝐈𝐬 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐏𝐡𝐃 𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐚?

𝙎𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙖 𝙢𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙚𝙙𝙪𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙬𝙖𝙩𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙙 𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙬 𝙪𝙥?

I recently became aware of the heartbreaking circumstances of an international PhD researcher studying at an Australian university.

She came to Australia in June 2026 to pursue her doctoral studies, leaving her husband and young daughter temporarily in Sri Lanka. Her plan was simple: settle into university life, arrange accommodation and finances, and then bring her family to live with her during her studies.

She declared her husband and daughter in her original visa application. Her family subsequently applied to join her, but their application was refused because of insufficient financial evidence. They began addressing those concerns, hoping to reapply.

Then the rules changed.

ꜰʀᴏᴍ 2 ᴏᴄᴛᴏʙᴇʀ 2026, ᴀᴜꜱᴛʀᴀʟɪᴀ ɪɴᴛʀᴏᴅᴜᴄᴇᴅ ɴᴇᴡ ꜱᴛᴜᴅᴇɴᴛ ᴠɪꜱᴀ ʀᴇꜱᴛʀɪᴄᴛɪᴏɴꜱ ᴘʀᴇᴠᴇɴᴛɪɴɢ ꜰᴀᴍɪʟʏ ᴍᴇᴍʙᴇʀꜱ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ᴀᴘᴘʟʏɪɴɢ ʟᴀᴛᴇʀ ᴀꜱ ꜱᴜʙꜱᴇQᴜᴇɴᴛ ᴇɴᴛʀᴀɴᴛꜱ, ᴇᴠᴇɴ ᴡʜᴇʀᴇ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴅᴇᴄʟᴀʀᴇᴅ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏʀɪɢɪɴᴀʟ ᴀᴘᴘʟɪᴄᴀᴛɪᴏɴ.

This mother now faces the possibility of spending years apart from her four-year-old daughter while completing her PhD.

𝗜𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗽𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆?

Legally, it is not described as punishment. But we must be willing to ask whether the consequences of a policy can cause hardship that was never intended.

I understand that Australia needs a fair, responsible and well-managed immigration system. Visa applicants must meet financial and other eligibility requirements.

But what about families who made genuine decisions under the previous arrangements? What about parents who declared their children honestly, attempted to follow the process, and were preparing to correct deficiencies in their applications?

A PhD is not an easy undertaking. It requires years of dedication, concentration, sacrifice and emotional resilience.

Imagine conducting demanding research while watching your young daughter grow up through a mobile phone screen. Imagine missing birthdays, ordinary family moments and the opportunity to comfort your child when she needs you.

Prolonged separation can place considerable pressure on family wellbeing and may affect a researcher's ability to complete her studies successfully.

This particular researcher's work involves artificial intelligence and bushfire detection - an area with potential benefits for Australia's environmental protection and disaster preparedness.

Australia invests in attracting talented international researchers. We should also be willing to examine whether our policies provide fair and workable arrangements for their families.

𝗜 𝗮𝗺 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝗺𝗺𝗶𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗹𝗮𝘄𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗱. 𝗜 𝗮𝗺 𝗮𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗯𝗲 𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀.

Could there be a lawful pathway for spouses and young children who were declared before the changes and had already attempted to apply?

Could the wellbeing of children and the circumstances of existing doctoral students receive greater consideration?

These are questions worth discussing respectfully.

Australia is a country where compassion, fairness, education and family wellbeing matter.

𝙋𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙪𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬𝙡𝙚𝙙𝙜𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙪𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙡𝙮 𝙢𝙚𝙖𝙣 𝙨𝙖𝙘𝙧𝙞𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙤𝙪𝙨 𝙮𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙖 𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙙'𝙨 𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙙.

I hope this issue receives thoughtful consideration from our community, universities and those responsible for immigration policy.



Anthony Albanese
Tony Burke MP

14/10/2026

13/10/2026

People sometimes delete my comments on their posts, so I prefer posting on my own social media to share my thoughts.

👉🏾 Trump is right; the world is right.