Multicultural Australia: The Way Forward
States, Territories and the wider community
Under Australia's federal system the Commonwealth shares responsibilities for cultural diversity policies and programs with the States and Territories.
All State and Territory governments have adopted multicultural policies and each has established a government body that deals with multicultural and ethnic issues.
In all cases State and Territory multicultural policies are consistent with the principles set out in the National Agenda.
State and Territory initiatives address, for example:
- the promotion of social cohesion;
- celebration of a culturally diverse society;
- encouragement of community development;
- multilingual information services;
- cross-cultural awareness training;
- the provision of appropriate services to all sectors of the community; and
- the economic benefits of cultural diversity.
Local government throughout Australia has also introduced many programs that recognise that its clients are a very diverse group.
Within the wider community cultural diversity is often celebrated in Australia, through community based multicultural festivals and similar activities.
Programs and activities flowing from multicultural policy are also evident in the education sector.
Cross-cultural training courses are increasingly used today — for economic as well as social reasons.
Companies with a diversity of clients, either in Australia or overseas, understand that they need to communicate properly with them.
The tourism industry and education sector that services overseas students are good examples of this.
The need to communicate across cultural lines also explains why educational institutions — schools, universities and institutes of technology — offer many courses today that address cultural diversity.
In this sense, cultural diversity is now a mainstream issue.
Some current views about multicultural policy
Since its introduction 'multiculturalism' has been a subject of discussion, particularly during this past year.
There has always been a range of views commonly expressed about multicultural policy — many favourable, some critical. A selection of such views follows.
In thinking about them a major challenge is to distil the common ground — especially the agreement about desired outcomes for Australia.
Opinion polls
According to opinion polls, many people welcome the contribution of people from different origins and acknowledge that their contributions have benefited Australia.
For instance, on 3 May 1997, The Australian published the findings of a Newspoll survey that asked "has multiculturalism been good or bad?". Very significantly, 78 per cent of respondents considered that multiculturalism had been good.
An earlier survey by the Sydney Morning Herald, on 5 November 1996, found that 70 per cent of Australians disagreed with the proposition that "multiculturalism should be abolished".
An Age poll (AGB McNair on 19 June 1996) found that 61 per cent of respondents agreed with the "policy of multiculturalism adopted by successive Australian governments".
However, opinion polls contain mixed messages.
A Saulwick Age poll of 31 May 1994 found that around 65 per cent of Australians considered Australia to be a better place due to having people from many countries here, but 60 per cent considered that migrants should live like the majority, and 63 per cent agreed that migrants should not be criticised for not mixing.
73 per cent considered Australia to be a tolerant society.
Opinion polls must necessarily be interpreted with care and they are only one indicator of community views, but these findings show some consistent trends.
Areas of general agreement
While there are many views, there seems to be consensus on some issues. Diversity in the cultural aspects of people's lives seems to be generally welcomed by Australians (this includes food, the arts, social interactions, language, and religion).
With around 80 per cent of Australia's trade being with non-English-speaking countries, most agree that our diversity can assist Australia's engagement with an increasingly global market place.
There is wide agreement that we are all Australians and that our social infrastructure has been developed for the common good.
There is also a widespread acceptance of the right of all Australians to equality of treatment and opportunity.
Equal opportunity principles are directed at all Australians and not just sectional interests and concerns. On some issues, such as those discussed below, views seem to be quite polarised.
Social cohesion
Many people view Australia, despite its diversity, as a stable, cohesive and harmonious society.
They believe that multiculturalism is an important factor in maintaining social cohesion in Australia. They see multicultural policy as an expression of the quintessential Australian notion of giving everyone a 'fair-go'.
These people say that cultural diversity has greatly contributed to Australia's economic and social sophistication.
They view our familiarity with the way people live, how business works and the nuances of the cultures and languages in other countries as a significant asset for Australia's international and domestic competitiveness.
They point out that multicultural policy has not provided special privileges for certain groups and that eligibility for services is based on individual need.
Others are uncomfortable with the term 'multiculturalism', doubt the worth of continuing with it, or feel threatened by it.
They see the policy of multiculturalism as contributing to a general sense of uneasiness in the community and a cause of unacceptable separateness within the nation.
These people say that the policy has given undue emphasis to the maintenance of cultural difference and the interests of individual groups rather than those of the Australian community as a whole.
They see multiculturalism as a negative and divisive feature of today's Australia.
Further, some have a perception that the policy gives migrants rights and privileges that are not available to other Australians.
Role of government
There are different views about what the role of government should be in this area.
Some people argue that without settlement and multicultural policies, migrants would become marginalised minorities.
For them, multiculturalism is more than recognition of ethnic diversity.
They see a need for significant government involvement in a variety of settlement and multicultural programs to encourage full and productive participation by newcomers and other Australians in all aspects of Australian society.
Another school of thought is that government should not support specific multicultural programs for migrants.
These people argue that cultural background is not a special feature of human life; it is just one aspect of the private lives of people and culture cannot be given a special place.
They see multicultural policy and programs as giving privileges to non-English-speaking Australians.
They accept that an individual's language and culture will shape his or her identity, but see this as strictly a private matter.
Shared values
Most acknowledge that diversity is a fact of life in Australia, but there does not appear to be a consensus about what this means for traditional Australian values.
Some say that our traditional values of respect for individual freedoms and giving everyone a 'fair-go' have disposed us to accept differences.
In other words, it is our traditional Australian values that underpin multicultural policy and this is why Australians are generally able to accept people whose cultures include different traditions.
Others see Australia being confronted by the dilemma of there not appearing to be a binding commitment that can keep Australians united, no common vision or general conviction about the way ahead.
They see diversity as risking a damaging breakdown in the values that Australians share.
The Council acknowledges that there is a range of opinions on multicultural issues. These will be taken into account in its work.
The Council believes that discussion of issues needs to be based on factual information; it is particularly important to examine the core values and principles which Australians support and share as a community.
3. Basic principles underlying multicultural policy
The Council believes that our multicultural policy should reflect those Australian core values which are central to Australia's liberal democratic traditions and whose relevance is timeless.
Australia is, above all, a free and open society; its institutions, values and traditions reflect a compassionate concern for the vulnerable in our society and a firm belief that everyone is entitled to a 'fair go'.
The Council believes that these values are rooted deep in our traditions. They are evident in the cultures of the Aboriginal societies which pre-date European settlement.
They are also to be found in the egalitarian ethos which underpinned the development of a liberal democratic Australia in the 19th century. This tradition has helped Australia to attract and to welcome so many migrants.
This openness has also allowed the country to accept and respect the rights of individuals to live by their own religious and cultural beliefs and customs.
The Council believes that this acceptance has helped Australia to develop into a successful multicultural society which, far from being a departure from Australia's traditions, is one of its finest achievements.
But a free society is also, necessarily, governed by law. The Council notes, however, that not all community standards and values are or can be enshrined in legislation.
It is also important to recognise that law is not simply a matter of legislation; ultimately it is a matter of morality — of values and standards.
Australia is a compassionate and caring society, a society sensitive to the feelings of others.
As a society, we must reject prejudice and intolerance in whatever shape, for the good of this country, our social cohesion and the future of our children.
All Australians, regardless of origin, can expect to be treated fairly and equitably. Without this we would not have a harmonious society. These basic principles — freedom and openness — define some common ground.
They are, in one sense, timeless but in practice they derive from Australian experience.
There are, of course, boundaries to our freedom. We have mutual obligations. These were spelt out in the National Agenda.
Accepting the right to express our own cultural preferences entails the obligation to accept the right of others to do likewise — even when disagreeing with them, provided always that these preferences do not breach the framework of shared values and practices common to all Australians.
On 30 October 1996 the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth Parliament unanimously passed a resolution that expresses some of the principles and boundaries of our society.
The resolution provides a good indication of bipartisan support for some core principles. It says:
This House:
- reaffirms its commitment to the right of all Australians to enjoy equal rights and be treated with equal respect regardless of race, colour, creed or origin;
- reaffirms its commitment to maintaining an immigration policy wholly non-discriminatory on grounds of race, colour creed or origin;
- reaffirms its commitment to the process of reconciliation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, in the context of redressing their profound social and economic disadvantage;
- reaffirms its commitment to maintain Australia as a culturally diverse, tolerant and open society, united by an overriding commitment to our nation, and its democratic institutions and values; and
- denounces racial intolerance in any form as incompatible with the kind of society we are and want to be.
The Council welcomes this resolution as an important statement of principle, entirely consistent with Australia's traditions, and most fundamental moral commitments.
Even during vigorous public debate about these and other similar issues that has occurred in Australia over the past year, opinion polls and research show that Australians are generally proud of their country and view it as the best place in the world to live.
We see ourselves as a generally cohesive society and wish this to continue to be so.
Social cohesion is about diversity within a common structure. It acknowledges that we are all bound by community standards, and that we each have a part to play in the maintenance of these standards.
It is not about uniformity, but unity in diversity.
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