National Agenda for a Multicultural Australia
Issues
In many ways Australia today has a record of which it can be intensely proud. Since the Second World War large scale immigration from around the world has been achieved without significant social conflict.
We should be proud of such achievements but not complacent.
Perhaps Australia's most remarkable social achievement has been the relative ease and success with which a previously monocultural, largely Anglo-Celtic society accepted and absorbed a massive post-war influx of immigrants from Europe and Asia, a process which has dramatically and irrevocably changed the face and life of Australia.
Immigrants have contributed to Australian society and the economy in many ways. Their labour assisted in post-war economic reconstruction and prosperity. Many now rank among our most successful business leaders, primary producers and entrepreneurs. others have made their mark in research, the professions, the arts, civic affairs and culture. Their children have benefited from the struggles of their parents through social mobility, educational achievement and worldly success.
It is misleading, however, to paint the Australian achievement in such sweeping and glowing terms. The reality is more complex and varied. The record is inconsistent and, in parts, unsatisfactory. Even today, language, race and culture continue to be associated with inequality:
- Patterns of income distribution, unemployment, social security dependency, industry and occupational segmentation, and participation in education and training, show that while Australians from non-English speaking backgrounds cannot be regarded as disadvantaged across the board - and indeed on some indicators particular overseas-born groups have succeeded very well - some categories of NESB people remain extremely vulnerable and disadvantaged.
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Immigrants, especially those who have arrived in Australia recently and/or have low proficiency in English, and members of particular NESB communities, continue to achieve at levels lower than other groups with comparable characteristics. Asian Australians, even those whose families have lived here for many generations, continue to face prejudice and hostility.
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Australian people born in Lebanon and Vietnam, for example, experience levels of unemployment 3 to 4 times greater than the national average. So do NESB youth as a group. Australian-born children of Turkish and Maltese parents continue to have relatively low levels of participation in higher education. Older unskilled and semi-skilled immigrants experience more frequent and longer spells of unemployment than their Australian- born counterparts. Elderly people from ethnic communities often experience greater isolation and loneliness than other senior citizens.
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The problems faced by women workers - such as poor working conditions and limited provision of and access to child care - are often compounded for immigrants by English language difficulties, social isolation and cultural insensitivity within the workplace. Attitudes within some ethnic communities exacerbate their disadvantage, especially the different educational and occupational aspirations that some groups have for girls.
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Inequality based on cultural difference and community attitudes is most pronounced in the case of Aboriginal Australians. Though slowly improving, the economic and social condition of most Aboriginal people is worse than that of any other identifiable group within the Australian community - in terms of health, income, labour force participation, welfare dependency, housing and living conditions, and participation in education and training at all levels. in their quest for equality they continue to confront major barriers of prejudice, discrimination and cultural insensitivity.
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Local government plays a critical and expanding role in the provision of community services. Increasingly councils are taking specific steps to meet the needs of their Aboriginal and NESB residents. Although statutory responsibility for local councils rests with State Governments, the Commonwealth is able to provide stimulus and support under the Home and Community Care, the Children's Services and the Local Government Development Programs.
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