Australian Multiculturalism for a New Century: Towards Inclusiveness
2 Australian Multiculturalism: Towards Inclusiveness (continued)
2.8 Principles of Australian multiculturalism
The goals and principles that underpin multicultural policy, as articulated in the 1989 National Agenda for a Multicultural Australia, have continuing relevance and importance.
This is confirmed by the Council’s consultations. Both the dimensions (rights) and the limits (obligations) of Australian multiculturalism set out in the National Agenda have, however, been open to misinterpretation.
For instance, some Australians wrongly see multiculturalism as being only about minority ethnic group rights, when in fact it relates to the whole community.
While most Australians are likely to agree with the thrust of the National Agenda definitions for both rights and obligations, great care must be taken to avoid any suggestion that they stem exclusively, or even predominantly, from multiculturalism. In fact, they arise from Australian democracy.
The Council recommends the adoption of the following statement of the foundations and principles of Australian multiculturalism, which incorporates not only the goals and principles of the 1989 National Agenda, but also reflects the revised focus that the Council is proposing:
Australian democracy guarantees us our civic freedoms and our fundamental rights and equality, and it is the institutions of Australian democracy that enable diversity in our society to flourish.
Australian society is diverse, encompassing a wealth of cultures, histories and traditions, rural and urban, of indigenous and all other Australians.
The proper functioning of our society requires us to manage the consequences of our cultural diversity in the interest of the individual and society as a whole.
This will be achieved, and Australian multiculturalism will be a continuing and fundamental strength of our society, if the Australian people and the institutions of our society base their actions and measure their achievements on the following principles for living with cultural diversity:
- civic duty: all Australians are obliged to support the basic structures and principles of Australian society – our Constitution, democratic institutions and values – which guarantee us our freedom and equality and enable diversity in our society to flourish;
- cultural respect: subject to the law, the right to express one’s own culture and beliefs involves a reciprocal obligation to accept the right of others to do the same;
- social equity: all Australians are entitled to equality of treatment and opportunity enabling them to contribute to the social, political and economic life of Australia, free from discrimination on the grounds of race, culture, religion, language, location, gender or place of birth;
- productive diversity: the significant cultural, social and economic dividends which arise from the diversity of our population should be maximised for the benefit of all Australians.
The Council recommends that these principles be adopted as the basis of an enhanced and refocussed multicultural policy framework, and emphasises that the initiatives recommended in this report are directed to translating these principles into action.
In particular, the Council recommends the enhancement and refocussing of Australian multiculturalism by:
- highlighting that Australian multiculturalism has been built on the evolving values of Australian democracy and 'citizenship’;
- ensuring that it adequately reflects the balance of rights and obligations expected of all 'citizens’;
- making it inclusive so that it seeks to embrace and be embraced by all sections of the community by:
- acknowledging the contribution of all Australians to the success of our multicultural society, and in particular the heritage of Great Britain and Ireland from which our democracy has evolved;
- stressing the imperative nature and urgency of reconciliation between our indigenous people and all other Australians;
- promoting acceptance and mutual respect by all Australians of our diverse cultures;
- drawing a clear conceptual distinction between settlement and multicultural strategies;
- ensuring that we maximise the social, cultural and economic benefits of our diversity and address any of its weaknesses;
- ensuring that the funding of multicultural programs is based on defined criteria and accountability;
- seeking political leadership and cross-party support for Australian multiculturalism;
- stressing the importance of leadership, in all areas of life, for the harmony and wellbeing of a culturally diverse society.
The Council also calls for leadership and commitment to the objectives of Australian multiculturalism by political, public service, business and community leaders, educators, the media and individual Australians and stresses the importance of cross-party support and consensus on the fundamental principles in which multiculturalism is based.
The proposed changes of emphasis do not imply any lessening of the importance of current strategies, policies and programs designed to address the needs and opportunities that arise from cultural diversity, but they do mark a transition to a more inclusive phase of Australian multiculturalism with the clear recognition that it is founded on the values of Australian democracy and 'citizenship’.
Further, because Australian multiculturalism will only achieve its full potential if it enjoys greater public understanding and support than at present, it is imperative that a communication strategy also be set in place to explain the policy of Australian multiculturalism and promote its benefits to the wider community.
This would be in the long-term interests of the nation, although many positive outcomes can and should be achieved in the short term.
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