Access and Equity Inquiry
About the inquiry
On 18 November 2011, Parliamentary Secretary for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, Senator the Hon Kate Lundy, announced the establishment of an independent panel of eminent community leaders to conduct an inquiry into Australian Government services to ensure they are responsive to the needs of Australians from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. The Inquiry Panel is examining the Australian Government's Access and Equity Strategy and Framework which applies to all Australian Government policies, programs and services.
The strategy seeks to promote fairness and responsiveness in the design, delivery, monitoring and evaluation of Australian Government services for Australians from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. The Access and Equity Inquiry Panel will provide advice and recommendations to the Australian Government on how existing services are provided and how they could be improved.
The independent panel is chaired by former Department of Immigration and Citizenship Deputy Secretary, Mr Peter Hughes, and includes:
- Mr Pino Migliorino, Chair of the Federation of Ethnic Communities' Councils of Australia
- Ms Maria Dimopoulos, member of Australian Lawyers for Human Rights and International Commission of Jurists and recipient of an Amnesty International Human Rights Award
- Ms Jatinder Kaur, a cultural diversity consultant
- Judge Rauf Soulio, Chair of the Australian Multicultural Council, as an ex officio member of the panel.
The inquiry was one of five key initiatives announced in the People of Australia—Australia's Multicultural Policy, which was launched on 16 February 2011.
See: Australia's Multicultural Policy
The Inquiry is being conducted from November 2011 to June 2012. The Panel will present its final report to the Australian Government by 30 June 2012.
Consultation process
On 17 December 2011 the Panel released a discussion paper seeking submissions from peak bodies and other interested parties. It also released a shorter discussion paper aimed at clients and communities which was translated into a range of community languages, selected on the basis of objective accessibility data.
The Panel wishes to thank everyone who made a submission to the inquiry. Your feedback will contribute to the Panel's recommendations to the Australian Government in June 2012.
Further Information
Any questions in relation to the inquiry should be directed to:
Access and Equity Inquiry Secretariat
Multicultural Policy Section
Department of Immigration and Citizenship
PO Box 25
Belconnen ACT 2616
Email: accessandequity@immi.gov.au
Telephone: (02) 6198 7285