Ad shows lifeguards ignoring drowning man in campaign to alter the Australian narrative on migration

Migration is something that can be difficult for Australians to talk about. One group is looking to change that

The lifeguards featured in Outstralia's campaign. (Ourstralia )

Australians have always been known for their laid back nature and sense of humour. Now they’re putting it to use to speak out against the ongoing migration crisis – which is an issue in South East Asia, as well as Europe.

'Ourstralia' is an initiative which aims to alter the narrative around migrants and asylum seekers down under.

Their latest campaign videos use the very Aussie analogy of lifeguards at the beach making excuses to themselves to ignore a drowning man:

“I’m not gonna waste my time and energy helping some bloke that’s got himself in trouble”

“Bruce, from this angle, he’s not actually between the flags anymore…”

“…technically that is not our problem”

“Outta sight, outta mind.”

Australia has a reputation for having a less than laid back attitude in regards migrants and asylum seekers.

While large numbers of migrants in boats has been a relatively new issue for Europe to deal with, large numbers have attempted to reach Australia by boat for many years.

The Australian government say that between 2012 and 2013, the number of illegal migrants arriving in the country by boat reached 18,119. It is believed that hundreds have died while trying.

Many are from war torn countries like Afghanistan and Iraq, Sri Lanka or Myanmar.

Controversial government measures to tackle this, such as towing boats away, meant that only one boat of migrants reportedly reached Australia in 2014. The number of asylum claims overall in the same yeardropped to 9,000 from 11,700 in 2013.

An even more controversial measure is the ‘Pacific solution.’ This is the government policy of forcibly sending and detaining migrants in offshore ‘processing centres’ on Pacific islands, such as Nauru and Papua New Guinea.

Media coverage of the situation and the conditions in which the migrants are housed in is scant. However, the migrant housing on the islands are routinely described as ‘detention centres.’

UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon has condemned the practice of mandatory offshore migration, saying that it “deprived [children] of their liberty.”

The country itself remains divided on the issue of migration. Many wholeheartedly support the government’s actions, and believe that tougher measures should be taken.

However, Ourstralia, backed by migrant advocacy group Balmain for Refugees, is not the only group of citizens which have spoken out in favour of migration. In December, a video and billboard campaign called ‘I came by boat’ featured high profile migrants to Australia.

The practice of offshore migrant processing has also come under numerous legal challenges.