Publications, Research & Statistics

Australian Multiculturalism for a New Century: Towards Inclusiveness

3 Australian Multiculturalism: The Next Steps (continued)

Question and answer #5
How much government assistance do migrants and refugees receive?

Some people express the view that migrants receive a greater share of government assistance than other Australians, and that, therefore, the policy of Australian multiculturalism unfairly favours them as a 'special interest group’.

This is quite incorrect.

We must recognise, however, that recently-arrived migrants in the community, and particularly those whose first language is other than English, may experience difficulties in adjusting to life in Australia and in gaining access to government services and programs.

We must also recognise that it is in the economic interest of Australia to have all migrants working to their full potential as quickly as possible.

The Government therefore provides a range of specialist services and programs to assist migrants in settling into Australia.

This does not, however, any longer extend to welfare benefits.

Parliament has passed legislation requiring migrants, except refugees and humanitarian entrants, to wait two years before they are eligible to receive some payments, including unemployment payments.

The waiting period is intended to encourage migrants to be more self-sufficient and to require sponsors to provide more assistance during the first two years.

Prospective migrants entering Australia are now informed throughout the migration process that they are required to have access to sufficient funds to support themselves or be able to rely on their sponsors for support for their first two years of residence in Australia.

Families with children are, however, immediately eligible for family allowance and maternity allowance.

Special benefit may be available in the first two years to migrants whose circumstances change after arrival for reasons beyond their control, resulting in severe hardship.

Refugee and humanitarian visa-holders and their immediate family members (partner and dependent children) are exempt from any waiting period.

Like all other Australians, migrants receive government assistance strictly in accordance with the eligibility criteria of government programs.

Assistance varies depending on the program. For example, migrants generally have immediate access to Medicare services.

Access to the full range of labour market services is linked to eligibility for social security payments.

As many newly-arrived migrants are not immediately eligible for social security, they do not have immediate access to the full range of Government employment services.

However, migrants who are permanent residents and meet other eligibility criteria are able to access Job-Matching services.

Additionally, while some Australian Citizens who reside overseas receive Australian pensions, a much larger amount is paid to migrants residing permanently in Australia from overseas social security systems.

3.2 Diversity dividends

While it is appropriate to ensure that the funding of multicultural programs is fully justified and subject to the highest standards of accountability, it is important to recognise that most of these costs are investments that enable Australia to maximise the benefits from its cultural diversity.

These investments, many of which are frequently grouped together under the banner of productive diversity, serve our strategic national interests and produce substantial dividends that accrue to the entire Australian community.

Diversity and Australia’s strategic international interests

The globalisation of markets and the massive growth in the use of technology have made the old notion of a homogeneous nation-state obsolete.

To remain relevant and competitive in the new world order, innovative thinking is required. We are part of the global community and, like all countries that take their international relations seriously, Australia exercises its sovereignty with these realities in mind.

Many countries consider Australia to be a model for the management of cultural diversity. We witnessed this at the Global Cultural Diversity Conference held in Sydney in April 1995 where Australia’s multicultural policies were internationally recognised.

The Australian model contains opportunities for the advancement of Australia’s strategic international interests.

For instance, because there is practically no language on earth that is not spoken in Australia and no economy in which an Australian has not worked, we are uniquely placed to take advantage of the globalisation of world markets.

Further, when we engage any nation socially, politically or economically, we can draw on the knowledge and expertise of Australians from the same background to help make the engagement more beneficial to our national interest.

The Government’s Foreign Affairs and Trade policy statement In the National Interest, issued in August 1997, argues a case for the integration of a range of domestic and international strategies.

It says 'One important area where government, business and the community can work closer together is in the so-called 'public diplomacy’: a diplomacy which operates in that area of intersection between the soft realm of image and the hard edge of a country’s economic and political interests’.

Until the 1970s Australia’s image, particularly among our nearest neighbours, suffered because of our restrictive immigration policy and its related assimilationist objectives.

Since then we have become one of the most culturally diverse societies in the world, thanks to our non-discriminatory immigration policy and our proactive approach to multiculturalism.

This has significantly improved our image, although some of the events of the past few years have raised some doubts both here and overseas regarding the sincerity and completeness of our policy and attitudinal change.

The Council considers that every effort must be made to portray the reality and significance of Australia as a culturally sensitive multicultural society.

With this objective in mind it is important to ensure that opportunities to project a positive image of Australia internationally are not missed - both directly in the international sphere and through the international portrayal of domestic matters.

The Council therefore welcomes the Richness in Diversity travelling exhibition developed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to showcase Australia’s cultural diversity in the Philippines, Indonesia, Korea, Thailand, China, Malaysia and Singapore.

The exhibition is a fine example of how Australia can use its cultural diversity in the national interest, internationally.

The Council also notes that the United Kingdom has agreed to hold a Global Cultural Diversity Congress from 19 to 22 March 2000.

This date links into the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on 21 March 2000 and other significant forums (such as the United Nations World Conference on Racism).

The Congress could provide Australia with another significant public diplomacy opportunity.

International sporting, cultural, diplomatic and political events present further opportunities to showcase Australia to the world, and it is essential that we use our cultural diversity strategically on such occasions.

Particular attention needs to be paid to the Sydney 2000 and Paralympic Games.

Australia’s selection to host these most prestigious of all events was significantly influenced by the strong promotion of our cultural diversity, with special emphasis on our indigenous communities and the contribution of migrants from all over the world.

Australians of diverse cultures played an important role by using their networks in their countries of origin to help secure the Games and to attract numerous other events and programs that will also take place here as a result.

The Council acknowledges that the Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (SOCOG) has established an Indigenous Advisory Committee (IAC) and a Multicultural Advisory Committee (MAC).

The Council’s Chairman is an ex-officio member of the MAC and is seeking opportunities for the Council, the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs and his Department to assist in areas of special responsibility, expertise and influence.

The Council is also urging SOCOG to ensure involvement and representation of Australia’s indigenous and multicultural population at all appropriate levels of influence within the SOCOG organisation.

This will encourage our culturally diverse communities who helped to win the Games to continue their contribution in the lead up to the running of the Games and related activities.

It will also ensure that the special language, religious, food and other social and cultural requirements of Australians and overseas visitors are well provided for, enabling people of all origins and cultures to share in the enjoyment of the Games.

The Council strongly recommends that all bodies responsible for planning and running the Games ensure that Australia fully lives up to the culturally diverse image we previously highlighted.

Australia’s indigenous and ethnic communities need to be appropriately represented in all planning and management processes, to encourage their continued contribution and give them a genuine opportunity to share in the enjoyment of the Games and related activities.

The value of the cultural strengths and relationships of Australia’s multicultural population has even greater significance when one considers the substantial changes in our international trade, particularly exports, between the 1950s when English-speaking countries dominated and the 1990s when Asian countries became much more prominent.

These facts point to a continuing and important agenda for the future, aimed at maximising the economic dividend from Australia’s diversity.

The strengths of diversity

Cultural diversity enables nations and organisations to meet the challenges and reap the benefits of global markets, global competition and continuous rapid change in a number of ways including:

Australia, as one of the most multicultural nations in the world, is particularly well placed to obtain all of the above benefits. Australian organisations, whether in the public or private sector, are able to use our multicultural strengths to improve the quality and competitiveness of their products and services and to develop a skilled workforce to the level of world best practice.

And the social, cultural and economic wellbeing of the Australian community has been enriched through the explosion, particularly in the past fifty years, in the diversity of arts, entertainment, music, dance, sport and other leisure pursuits, education, skills, and business and employment opportunities available in Australia.

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