Page 79 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 12 February 2019
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The original policy had a number of objectives, including the provision of language services, support for learning other languages and an emphasis on the role of linguistic diversity in economic development. Amongst others, it promised that “every effort will be made to retain, preserve and use Indigenous Australian languages in the ACT region”. It also stated that “all Canberrans will be encouraged to learn and treasure languages other than English”, and it made important commitments to strongly support both the ACT Community Language Schools Association and the teaching of languages other than English in ACT schools.
The minister did state when he tabled the update that he looked forward to “hearing about how we can support languages more broadly in the community”, but in the meantime a number of Canberrans are worried about what any future and long-overdue policy update might look like.
As noted by my Liberal colleague and fellow migrant Ms Elizabeth Lee in a motion that she sponsored in November last year, the ACT government’s future of education strategy does not make a single mention of the importance of language education in Canberra schools. Such a glaring omission does not reassure many of those in Canberra’s multicultural communities or those closely engaged in teaching languages.
I have highlighted this issue because it points to a number of issues more broadly. When a policy document that is important to culturally and linguistically diverse Canberrans is approaching its end date and is due for a review, it should be reviewed. If for some reason it cannot be reviewed, a good explanation should be provided. An expired policy does not communicate that this is a government that values or supports the multicultural community.
This reality merges with other concerns shared with me by others. Culturally and linguistically diverse Canberrans expect to be genuinely consulted and not just dictated to. For example, I have recently been informed that policies for booking the Theo Notaras Multicultural Centre were changed recently. Community groups that have long held regular events at the centre, including weekly language classes and weekly events for seniors with language barriers, have been told that they are now limited to using the function room only twice a month. In addition, a new charge that community groups cannot afford has been placed on using the centre’s kitchen, where previously this was included in a booking.
Community groups, however, claim that they were not consulted on this matter and were caught unawares by these changes. This causes friction and hurt feelings, not to mention creating logistical problems for community organisations that are fully staffed by volunteers and feel unsupported by this government, even when their activities help to fulfil stated government priorities. Many community groups feel they can no longer use the centre, and the Canberra Multicultural Community Forum have asked for better communication with centre users and have recommended a tenants management committee to oversee bookings in order to restore a sense of fairness.
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