Human Rights Values, Freedom and the Australian Way of Life

Multiculturalism: is it a big mistake?

24th March 2004

Melbourne Town Hall

Opening remarks - Dr Diane Sisely, Chief Executive, Equal Opportunity Commission Victoria

Thank you very much for coming to this, the first in a series of forums the Equal Opportunity Commission is going to be providing over the next 12 months on the theme: Human Rights Values, Freedom and the Australian Way of Life.

To commence the discussion I wish to recognise and remember that we are on the traditional lands of the people of the Kulin nation, the first people of this land, and I pay my respects to their elders some of whom may be here with us tonight.

Over the past two years there has been much discussion about Australian values and the Australian way of life, in the media, by politicians.

Fears have been raised about the level and the composition of immigration in this country, about the importation of values that we don't agree with. Commentators and letter writers to the editors have suggested that migrants should make more of an effort to be more like us.

But we also believe in a fair go, we believe in equal opportunity, in giving the other person a helping hand. So what does all this mean? What does it mean to be an Australian in the year 2004? Just what are our collective values?

According to the latest Census data, 23% of Victorians were born overseas and 43% of us were either born overseas or had parents who were born overseas and the rest of us are likely to have partners, spouses or relatives who were born overseas.

21% of us speak a language other than English, with more than 180 different languages and dialects spoken, and there are 116 different religions practiced in this State.

Of course, it goes without saying that the Commission believes that our multicultural society is a major success and one that is recognised world wide. Migrant are perhaps the main reason this town is seen as one of the most liveable cities in the world.

But it is time to us look beyond the food and the festivals to a more meaningful and deeper understanding of who we are, one that recognises that we are a society of people with an Indigenous base that has been added to by a continuous stream of migrants from the time of the first fleet.

Migrants were drawn here because they believe in freedom, in democracy and equality and respecting others as fellow human beings. Our hope is that these forums will provide a space and a place where these questions can be discussed by interested and well meaning people. Where diverging views can be expressed and facts presented, so that we can reach a common understanding based on the facts and solid reasoning rather than negative and erroneous stereotypes.

This I believe will lead us to reaffirm our commitment to respect for our fellow human beings, rather than being at the mercy of being told by others what our values are, what we think.

Tonight's forum, Multiculturalism: is it a big mistake?, is being held as part of Victoria's Celebrate Cultural Diversity Week, which is held each year around the 21st of March, International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. The 21st of March was selected because on that day in 1960, police opened fire and killed 69 people at a peaceful demonstration in Sharpville, South Africa who were protesting against the apartheid pass laws. All black South Africans were required to carry pass books that contained fingerprints, a photo and information on access to non black areas.

In 1960 a large group of people in Sharpville refused to carry their passes, the Government declared a state of emergency, and the emergency lasted for a 156 days leaving as I said 69 dead and 187 wounded.

The title of this forum is deliberately provocative in order to attract a range of views both from speakers and the audience. I believe there is enormous value in lively debate and discussion and that we should not shy away from the important and difficult subjects, rather we should seek to discuss and debate the issues so we can develop a very clear understanding based on fact, not prejudice or stereotypes; so that the views and values of ordinary people can be known rather than incorrectly asserted.

Many of us living in Victoria were drawn here because of the quality of life and opportunities available, yet racism and religious discrimination are pervasive and ongoing problems in our community.

Racism leads to the destruction of the very values we prize, the basic right to live and work in safe environments, to participate equally in the community, to be an inclusive society in which diversity is valued for the benefits it brings.

At the Commission we see the effects of racism through the complaints of racial discrimination and vilification. The social, economic and personal costs of discrimination, harassment, vilification and violence are high. Not just for the person being vilified but also for the harasser. It's true, hate hardens your arteries.

When we think about culture and our multicultural community we need to be careful to do so within the framework of human rights. Sometimes practices or aspects of our culture can breach fundamental rights. Our cultural practices must be open to scrutiny, to debate and challenge; it is only by doing so that we can build a society based on respect.

It is my pleasure now to thank our supporters who have helped us put tonight's forum on. The City of Melbourne, who has kindly donated this room and The Age.

I also wish to thank the organisers of the Comedy Festival, who have kindly given up this room tonight when the numbers swelled. If there are any budding comedians here who think this is a rehearsal room, you're downstairs.

There has been a last minute change to our program, Commissioner Mick Keelty of the Australian Federal Police, is unable to attend tonight due to operational requirements. We are fortunate however to have two people who have undertaken extensive research into Australian values and views and they very graciously stepped in to the breech at the last moment. They are David Chalke and Pino Migliorino and I am profoundly grateful to both of them.