National Agenda for a Multicultural Australia

National agenda discussion paper

As a result of the vast amount of information and comment received during the consultation phase, and in order to give a focus to further discussion, the Advisory Council prepared a Discussion Paper, 'Towards a National Agenda for a Multicultural Australia'.

The Discussion Paper was presented to the Prime Minister at a special meeting of the Council in Parliament House on 16 September 1988 and then released publicly.

The Discussion Paper, which gave careful consideration to the definition of multiculturalism, examined a range of issues relating to the law, social justice, participation in community and political activities, education, employment, languages, the media and community relations.

Crucial to the Paper was the recommendation of eight goals as the basis for government policy on multiculturalism. They were endorsed by the Prime Minister on accepting the Paper and now constitute the goals of the National Agenda.

Over 7 000 copies of the Paper were printed and distributed widely to organisations and individuals who had participated in the consultations, Members of Parliament, the media, local libraries, universities and Commonwealth and State Government departments.

Following its release, the Office's Regional Co-ordinators arranged a second round of consultations. Public workshops were organised in each of the States and the Northern Territory to facilitate discussion on the issues raised in the Paper.

Advisory Council members and Office staff were involved in all workshops as keynote speakers and discussion group leaders. Further workshops were held in Canberra as part of the National Congress of the Federation of Ethnic Communities' Councils of Australia in December 1988, with Advisory Council members participating as discussion group leaders.

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