Alexander Downer condemned after saying refugees should be sent back

In a speech earlier this year, Alexander Downer said refugees are undermining the system by staying in Australia long term.

Alexander Downer met George Papadopoulos at a London wine bar in May, 2016. Source: AAP

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Published 7 October 2019 1:52pm

Updated 12 August 2022 3:22pm

By Rosemary Bolger, Stergos Kastelloriou

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Former foreign minister Alexander Downer has been condemned for "normalising racism and hatred" after accusing refugees who settle in Australia permanently of undermining the system.

In a speech to a migration summit in Hungary, Mr Downer also warned migrants who failed to learn English were setting up separate "Bantustan-style" communities in Australia.