Page 105 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 15 February 2006
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… by definition, a “crisis” can also be a turning point or a decisive moment rather than merely a danger or an extreme difficulty. It is up to our leaders, our commentators and the community to ensure it is the former.
That is why it is so important that the ACT government develop a comprehensive strategy to create a new, strong and pertinent framework for a multicultural ACT and that is why it is so crucial that young people are engaged as an age group and across ethnic groups.
The purpose of this motion is to ask the government to commit to a strategy which engages broadly with as many as possible of the different parties to our multicultural community. We need to do this sooner rather than later to counter fears about the application of the terror laws and pronouncements by racist and ill-informed politicians. I believe, too, that we need to reconsider the approach of our multicultural strategy, to move beyond respect for diversity to a connectedness within communities. That is the underlying theme of this motion, and I am very disappointed that the government plans to reject it out of hand.
Much of the multicultural activity in Canberra has been led by ethnic community associations. The various peak bodies, such as the ACT Multicultural Council, consist of representatives from these groups. In the past few years, some new groups have been formed, such as the Association of Migrant Women, which have a slightly broader remit, but the more institutionalised and established ethnic associations have maintained a strong presence.
The internal problems that the ACT Multicultural Council has suffered in recent years might be seen as stemming, at least in part, from the fairly unchanging nature of the structure, and it appears to have been difficult for individuals and groups outside the central core to find a voice at the council. The new group is a response to that. At the recent meeting I attended, it would seem that everyone was welcome, the constitution was on the table and up for discussion, and optimism was high. I imagine this new group will have the confidence of the minister. I imagine, indeed, that the minister was very pleased that it set itself up. I would argue, however, that, given the need for the ACT government to get smarter in supporting our continued commitment to a multicultural community, a new representative council, while it may go part of the way there, is not a sufficient base for the development of the next steps.
I want to quote from Mr Flynn, whom I earlier quoted, who quoted from a speech by the British High Commissioner for Racial Equality, Trevor Phillips—yes, a High Commission for Racial Equality—in response to the 7 July London bombings:
As an Australian living in London, I was lucky to listen, in September, to a speech given by the British Commissioner for Racial Equality, Trevor Phillips, in response to the July 7 London Bombings. Phillips made an impassioned and eloquent speech about moving beyond multiculturalism. In essence, he seemed to be suggesting that while multiculturalism had served Britain well in welcoming and accommodating millions of immigrants from all over the world … it was time that for the good of all Britons, British society took the next step.
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