Multicultural Australia: The Way Forward
Message from Council Chairman
In June 1997 the Commonwealth Government appointed the current members of the National Multicultural Advisory Council (NMAC).
The Council's terms of reference are quoted in full at the end of this document.
The Council's first task is to develop a report to the Government which recommends on a policy and implementation framework for the next decade aimed at ensuring that cultural diversity is a unifying force for Australia.
This issues paper has been prepared to initiate a process of community discussion as required by the Council's terms of reference.
Australia has always been a diverse society. Our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have many cultures and languages and our migrants have come from all parts of the globe.
Even those arriving on the First Fleet comprised not only the ethnic communities of Great Britain and Ireland but several others as well.
But it has only been in the past 25 years or so that a pro-active policy and program relating to our diversity has been developed under the overarching term 'multiculturalism'.
The principles and values underpinning multicultural policy were spelt out very clearly in the 1989 National Agenda for a Multicultural Australia.
This bipartisan commitment has continued and was most recently reaffirmed in a resolution passed unanimously by the Commonwealth Parliament on 30 October 1996. Both the National Agenda and the resolution are quoted extensively in this paper.
Australia's multicultural policy has arguably been more successful than that of any other diverse society. Recent national opinion polls indicate widespread acknowledgement that it has been beneficial.
There has also been international recognition, a recent good example of which was the warm praise given by US President Clinton during his 1996 visit.
On the other hand, we have since early 1996 seen increased questioning and criticism of certain aspects of multiculturalism.
Such views have some, albeit minority, support. However, given the Council's primary task to recommend a framework aimed at ensuring that cultural diversity is a unifying force, and the requirement of Council to engage the community in discussion, we welcome all input whether supportive or critical, from individuals or groups, reflecting majority or minority opinion.
Despite the generally acknowledged success of Australia's multiculturalism, there is no room for complacency.
We have always had our share of intolerance and in recent times there have been worrying signs of this becoming more overt.
The Council is very concerned about this trend and is of the firm opinion that intolerance of any form must not be condoned.
There is also an impression that multicultural policy has been primarily concerned with the needs of migrants, particularly those of a non-English-speaking background who have come to Australia in large numbers during the past 50 years.
The Council is strongly of the view that such impressions must be satisfactorily addressed if diversity is to become a unifying force.
We believe that multicultural policy must become more inclusive by embracing and being relevant to all Australians, starting with our indigenous peoples and extending to all migrants and descendants of migrants, whether they came originally from Great Britain and Ireland — as did the majority — or from the other countries of Europe, or from Asia, the Americas, Africa or our own South Pacific region.
It is important that multiculturalism is seen as an achievement we can and should all rightly be proud of, and whose benefits have accrued and will continue to accrue to all Australians, especially our children and future generations.
The foundation of multicultural policy is that Australia is a free society. This freedom makes us open and tolerant, with a commitment to equality of opportunity for all our people.
Strong as this foundation is, the Council believes that multiculturalism has meant, and needs to mean, much more than this to be a unifying force for Australia. We should build on our proud record of compassion and concern which has made ours a welcoming and caring society.
As a community we have and support certain core values, principles and institutions which, while shared by many countries, have a special 'Australian' quality.
These include a 'fair go', mutual respect, egalitarianism, parliamentary democracy, the rule of law, freedom of religion and expression, equality of opportunity irrespective of race, religion, origin, language, gender, physical or mental capacity or social and economic circumstance, and the rejection of bigotry and prejudice.
The Council believes these are strong enough to unite Australians from all backgrounds, particularly when one adds the substantial benefits that diversity brings to our quality of life and our economic well-being.
When it prepares its report, the Council's objective will be to advise the Government on policies which will help to maintain an inclusive, cohesive, tolerant and harmonious society while maximising the value we derive from our diversity and minimising any adverse effects.
This paper provides background information and raises a range of issues for the future.
You are invited to consider the issues raised as well as any others you consider appropriate, and provide the Council with any constructive comments you would like to make.
We look forward to your contribution, which will help the Council to take due account of a wide range of community views and feelings before advising the Government on a matter of such fundamental importance to Australia.
Neville J. Roach
Chairman
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