StepOne Launch
Sydney, 28 March 2008
Acknowledgements
Mayor of Ashfield, Councillor Ted Cassidy PSM
Chair of the Institute for Community Cohesion, Coventry University, UK Professor Ted Cantle CBE
distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen.
Firstly, I would like to acknowledge the Wangal People, the traditional custodians of this land.
It is a pleasure to be with you this morning to launch this important website.
It is also a pleasure to be in the company of so many whose work is devoted to promoting an understanding of cultural diversity and how it can work in an optimal way in modern societies.
In particular, I look forward to hearing from Professor Ted Cantle and learning from his extensive experience in this field in the United Kingdom.
Reid as an indicator of Australia’s diversity
Cultural diversity is a subject with which I have long been involved.
My electorate, Reid, in Western Sydney, reflects the changing face of Australia’s population.
I have witnessed its various transformations since my election as its representative in 1990.
According to the 2006 census, very close to half of the people in Reid were born overseas, compared with a national figure of 22%.
Just 30% of people in Reid speak English as their only language at home.
Of the remaining 70%, Arabic is spoken by 16% of Reid residents, followed by Cantonese, Mandarin, Turkish, Korean and others.
The people of Reid practise many religions and faiths including Christianity, Islam and Buddhism.
Reid also includes close to 1200 people who identify as Indigenous Australians.
This makes my electorate one of the most diverse in a very diverse country.
Cultural diversity in Australia’s history
Cultural diversity has always been a fact of Australia’s history.
From the diverse Indigenous peoples who have lived in this land for tens of thousands of years, to the Anglo-Celtic peoples who colonised it and the vast diversity of immigrants who have made it their home over the past two centuries, diversity is an integral part of who we are as a country.
Cultural diversity is a source of both social and economic wealth.
It gives vibrancy and dynamism to Australian life and is essential to the nation’s economic strength.
And it will continue to be a central feature of Australian society into the future.
Australia is one of the most successful and harmonious culturally diverse – or to use another word, multicultural - countries in the world, but we still have challenges to meet.
The meaning of multiculturalism
The term ‘multicultural’ is a much misunderstood one.
Let me outline what it is not:
- it is not about isolation and separatism;
- it is not about pockets of different communities living parallel lives without connection with each other and with the broader society;
- it is not simply about food and festivals.
Living in a multicultural country is about recognising, accommodating and celebrating differences of culture, ethnicity, language and faith within an overall sense of shared identity and purpose.
It’s about broadening our horizons and benefiting from the multiplicity of human experience in a modern, globalised, transnational world.
Opinion polls and other studies suggest that people in Australia, and especially young people, are increasingly comfortable with cultural diversity.
The Eye on Australia is a marketing research report that is published annually. The Business Review Weekly points out that last year’s report provided an interesting insight into how consumers perceive the Australian character.
Australian consumers broadly agreed that the phrase ‘true blue’ meant being ‘easygoing, multicultural, ‘free’, hardworking, determined and resourceful’.
This kind of information is very encouraging, but we can’t be complacent about our successes.
Engendering belonging and cohesion
We need to continue to work to ensure we remain a cohesive and inclusive society.
Central to a cohesive society is a deep sense of belonging in its people.
In order to ensure that our multiplicity of cultural experiences complement each other and co-exist respectfully and peacefully, we must cultivate a feeling of belonging and membership in all Australians.
We can achieve this by bringing people together in meaningful and sustainable ways.
This is easier said than done, and often obstacles need to be overcome.
Nevertheless, it has been done time and again in communities around Australia.
Doubtless those who are attending workshops today will hear inspiring stories of this kind.
The role of government/ local government
The Australian Government accepts its responsibility in providing leadership and support in this area.
We are committed to addressing issues which impede cohesion by promoting respect, fairness, inclusion and a sense of belonging for everyone.
I have asked my department to look at how we can better foster and promote the benefits of cultural diversity in the Australian community.
The Government believes it is time to take a fresh look at strategies for bringing Australians from all backgrounds together.
A key part of this will be a review of the community relations funding program – what is currently called ‘Living in Harmony’.
I want to ensure that resources are directed to those sectors of the community which are positioned to achieve the best outcomes.
For example, we recognise that local government authorities are often in the best position to identify and address the issues that arise in their communities.
Local government has always been an important part of our funding program.
Since 1999, nearly 50 projects have been funded which directly involve local government authorities.
The StepOne project
Macquarie University, through its Centre for Research on Social Inclusion, has recognised the valuable role of local councils in addressing issues at a grassroots level and building community cohesion.
What’s more, they have recognised the benefits in sharing models of best practice further afield in the Australian community.
The StepOne project represents enormous potential to empower local government bodies around the country to build cohesion within their local communities.
This website will allow people to benefit from the experience of others who have developed successful and sustainable models of community interaction.
The case studies which feature on the website will provide local councils with strategies to address a variety of issues in a variety of ways.
They will have access to further assistance via contact details for the original projects’ developers.
In addition, the steering committee will tour around the country providing direct support to communities.
The Australian Government is proud to be associated with this project, and I congratulate Macquarie University and its Centre for Research on Social Inclusion for its leadership in researching and disseminating best practice in the Australian community.
I particularly wish to thank Dr Amanda Wise for her pivotal work on this project.
To all those who are participating in workshops today, I hope you are inspired by what you hear and help to make sure that this resource is taken up with enthusiasm in communities around the country.
I hereby declare the StepOne website launched.
See:
URL: http://www.minister.immi.gov.au /parlsec/media/speeches/2008/lf080328.htm
Last update: 13 August 2008 at 17:14 AEST