Australian Multiculturalism Minister Alan Tudge has become the most prominent figure in government to back plans for South African refugee visas.

As reported by SBS News, Tudge – who was speaking to Sky News on Monday – indicated that the Liberal Party would pursue a policy that would give farmers in SA an easy route into Australia.

Why would Australia offer South African refugee visas?

These plans have been swirling around political circles in the Southern Hemisphere since Australian Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton suggested that land expropriation was a threat to South African farmers.

He absolutely butchered his phrasing – saying that Mzansi “needed help from a civilised country” – but his shoot-from-the-lip policy has somewhat struck a chord Down Under.

Who supports the fast-track proposals?

The brilliantly-named Ian Goodenough – a party MP in Western Australia – suggested that a “special intake of up to 10 000” would be ideal from South Africa, comparing it to the number of refugees the country has taken in from Syria recently.

Now it seems that Tudge is also on board with the proposals. Though he was a little less direct than his comrades, he still maintained that South African refugee visas are something worth looking into:

“We’re closely looking at the situation in South Africa. I suspect that we may well be able to take some in, but they’ll be each considered on their merits and according to the criteria of our humanitarian intake.” “We’re a very generous country to those who are in need and we don’t distinguish which country people come from, if they’re facing persecution then we will consider their application.”

SA in the spotlight

The combination of heavily-reported farm murders and Parliamentary approval for land expropriation without compensation have got all eyes fixed on South Africa.

The way the land lies for the farming community at the moment is a hot-button issue. Cyril Ramaphosa has always maintained land expropriation will be a cross-party issue that requires a shared dialogue. Finding the right balance will be the most narrow of tightrope walks for the President.