Real Problems. Real Solutions.
Title: Real Problems. Real Solutions. Moving beyond racial scapegoating during the Victorian election.
Topic: Migration, Migrants, Far Right Populism, Scapegoating, Racism, Multiculturalism
Published: 2026
Partners: Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC), Democracy in Colour
This message guide has been developed by Common Cause Australia in partnership with the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre and Democracy in Colour, with additional input from GetUp!, Victorian Trades Hall Council, and Australian Progress.
This is an interim guide based on early research with persuadable audiences carried out by Common Cause Australia as part of a larger forthcoming project on framing migration in Australia. It is designed for organisations communicating with the public in the run-up to the Victorian Election in November 2026.
During elections, debates about migration, multiculturalism, refugees and people seeking asylum can become particularly heightened. Racial scapegoating and divisive rhetoric can become more prominent in public debate.
With the Victorian election taking place in November 2026, we are releasing these interim findings to support organisations communicating on these issues at a time when they are being actively discussed.
The Victorian election also provides an opportunity to learn from how these messages work in practice ahead of the publication of the full message guide in early 2027.
In addition to our own early research, this interim guide draws on research carried out by GetUp!, Victorian Trades Hall Council and ACTU, who kindly shared recent insights.
Want the final guide?
The full guide on combating scapegoating and speaking about refugees and migrants will incorporate further quantitative testing, more detailed audience segmentation and learnings from the use of this interim message guide. It will be published in early 2027.
To be notified when the final guide is published, sign up here or scan the QR code .
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