From Afghanistan to the Outback: why refugees are ditching Australia’s pricey cities and going bush
- The country takes in around 14,000 refugees annually, but there has been a spike in anti-immigration sentiment, according to analysts
- While the cost of living in the cities gets higher, some smaller towns are desperate for new groups to move in and inject fresh life
A Hazara refugee who now calls the Australian outback home, Ali named his new venture the “Afghan Friendship Restaurant”, a tribute to the warm welcome he says he received after moving to the town of Griffith five years ago.
The 44-year-old father of three is among a growing number of refugees and migrants to Australia who have opted to live in the bush rather than among the bright lights and astronomical prices of Sydney or Melbourne.
The word “friendship” hovers over Ali’s head in bright red lettering while he cooks lamb skewers, his face a picture of concentration as the rich wafts of fragrant smoke lure in hungry customers.
It is the first-ever Afghan eatery in Griffith – a six-hour drive west of Sydney – and a far cry from the pie and chips staples of the Australian bush.
“I suggest to all of my friends, especially Afghan people, to come to Griffith, because here’s very friendly,” Ali, who asked that his surname not be used to protect family still in Afghanistan, tells Agence France-Presse during a break from cooking.
“Also we can find a job as well, because the population is not too much.”