The Wire

Despite Australia’s international reputation as anti-migrant, it seems some regional towns are going against the redneck stereotype. At Griffith in NSW many local residents are asking the government to allow Afghan refugees on temporary visas, to stay permanently, because of their contribution to the local economy. In July the Howard government will be offering incentives for new migrants to move to rural areas, but the plan doesn’t apply to asylum seekers. Hannah Churton reports.