Community Relations Commission and Principles of Multiculturalism Bill
Page: 4991
Second Reading
Debate resumed from 23 September 1999.
Mr IEMMA (Lakemba—Minister for Public Works and Services, and Minister Assisting the Premier on Citizenship) [7.38 p.m.]: The Government in Committee will move an amendment that I have circulated to the Deputy Leader of the Opposition. The amendment is as follows:
Page 2, clause 3, lines 18-21. Omit all words on those lines. Insert instead "Parliament recognises that the people of New South Wales are of different linguistic, religious, racial and ethnic backgrounds, who, either individually or in community with other members of their respective groups, are free to profess, practise and maintain their own linguistic, religious, racial and ethnic heritage. It does so by supporting and promoting the following principles of multiculturalism:"
We believe that the amendment strengthens the philosophical statement that was part of the original clause and, as emerged from the consultations that took place, that it is a much stronger statement. The Government will contribute further during the Committee stage.
Mr O'FARRELL (Ku-ring-gai—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) [7.40 p.m.]: I lead for the Opposition in place of my leader, who cannot attend the Chamber at this time. On behalf of the Coalition I support the general thrust of this legislation, but with significant reservations about the manner in which the Government, and the Premier in particular, have behaved in this matter. The Coalition will not vote against the bill as it now stands, but will seek to move amendments in the Legislative Council to take account of the concerns expressed loudly by ethnic and community groups. Unlike our opponents, members on this side of the House have been in regular and extensive contact with representatives of our ethnic communities over many months to discuss ways of improving this bill. We have consulted widely—which is more than we can say about the Government.
One of the major reasons we supported the Legislative Council's inquiry into multiculturalism—which has only recently called for submissions and is due to hold its hearings shortly—was to examine the level of consultation and to listen to the committee's views on the merits of this bill. Unlike the Government, the Liberal and National parties are not afraid of an open and consultative process. The arrogance with which the Government has acted in relation to this legislation is nothing short of breathtaking. That is to say something, for this is one of the most arrogant, self-serving administrations we have had the misfortune to witness in our State for some time. Put simply, this Labor Government is a government that does not listen. It is a government that does not consult. That can be demonstrated by this bill and the Premier's approach to this most important portfolio area.
A little history will prove this case. In April last year the Premier took the extraordinary step of abandoning his title as Minister for Ethnic Affairs and replacing it with the title of Minister for Citizenship. The reason for that shift was never made clear, but it is fair to say that it surprised and puzzled many ethnic community leaders, as well as many other people in our community. The broadcaster John Laws, for example, said:
The ethnic communities are as puzzled as the rest of us as to why Bob wants to offend them so deeply over something that wouldn't appear to matter much to anyone besides Bob.
Linked to this change in ministerial title was an announcement that the Ethnic Affairs Commission would be renamed the Community Relations Commission. This move, too, surprised many. After all, not a word was said during the 1999 election campaign about changing the name of the commission. It was yet another project kept in the Premier's bottom drawer—much like the Premier's decision to punish families in this State by increasing train, bus and ferry fares, and by increasing Department of Housing rents. The reaction to the Premier's decision to change the name of the commission was certainly swift. Paul Nicolau, the Chairman of the Ethnic Communities Council, said the move had come as a shock. Mr Nicolau went on to say:
This was not raised as an option before the State Election and the Ethnic Communities Council … has not been consulted.
This goes to the heart of the Coalition's concerns with the bill, and the lack of consultation with ethnic communities and with the broader community. Since the announcement was made, the Opposition's adviser on ethnic affairs, the Hon. James Samios, and the Leader of the Opposition have been approached by representatives of ethnic communities, welfare and community groups, and individuals. They are all mystified by and angry with this decision to change the name of the commission without appropriate consultation. I should like to read onto the record the comments of just a handful of community leaders. John Gebhardt, the Chairman of the Ethnic Communities Council in the Newcastle and Hunter region, said:
At a public meeting of delegates there was general alarm not only about the unexpected and unannounced change… but at the total lack of consultation that preceded this decision.
Vivi Germanos-Koutsounadis, Executive Director of the Ethnic Childcare, Family and Community Services Co-operative, said:
It is disappointing that there were no consultations and complete disregard of the ethnic communities before embarking in the decision to change the name of the Ethnic Affairs Commission.
Tom Beram, President of the Croatian Intercommittee Council for New South Wales, stated:
I have attended a public meeting organised by the Ethnic Affairs Commission at Ashfield where there was not one supporter for the changes.
Mr Beram concluded by saying:
It would appear that the Government is forcing a One Nation policy of assimilation.
Mr Neville Roach, Chairman of the National Multicultural Affairs Council, said:
Community relations does not highlight the emphasis on inclusiveness that is essential for Australian multiculturalism.
Peter Wertheim, President of the New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies, also questioned the change of portfolio name. He said:
It does not distinguish adequately the discredited policy of 'assimilation' … under which immigrants were expected to discard their previous ethnic attachment and conform to a yet indefinite Australian cultural identity.
Others—many others—are angered by this change in the name of the commission and the lack of consultation. Prominent community leaders such as Bill Jegorow, a lifelong supporter of the Labor Party, and Angela Chan and Dr Peter Wong, both prominent members of the Australian-Chinese community, are angry not only about the planned change in the name of the commission but especially about the absolute lack of consultation. It seems that no-one in this Government—not the Premier, nor his Minister assisting—bothered to ask our ethnic communities what they thought about the change. That is a simple courtesy in anybody's book—a simple courtesy that this arrogant Government failed to extend to the ethnic communities, probably because it sees those communities as politically expendable. Shame on the Premier!
Faced with such a backlash from community leaders, the Government finally decided to, at least, pretend it was consulting with ethnic and other groups. The Government set up a consultation process—a Clayton's consultation process. That is typical of this Government's approach. It announces the decision, then sets up a consultative process. No wonder community leaders are upset. There is a right and a wrong way to consult, and the Premier's way is the wrong way. I warn the Premier that the community does not like and will not tolerate arrogance in governments.
In any case, the results of the Government's so-called consultation process remains largely unknown to the broader community. The Opposition understands that 85 submissions have been received regarding the proposed name change, but these remain secret—another all-too-common trait in this secretive and arrogant government. What is the Premier trying to hide? The Government has refused to release this information so that the Parliament can consider this legislation in a more informed manner. I suspect it is because the majority of those submissions oppose the change in the name, and criticise the Premier and his Government for failing to consult.
The Liberal and National parties, in an attempt to gain access to those submissions, lodged a freedom of information application for the documents. But would members be surprised to learn that the Carr Government initially refused the application? Only after the Opposition sought assistance from the Ombudsman did the Carr Government agree to the application proceeding, in part at least. But the Opposition is still waiting, and has been awaiting several months, for the results of the freedom of information application, which should have been released very shortly and would prove very illuminating on the Government's consultative process. It is little wonder that the Premier has brought this bill forward.
In his second reading speech the Minister assisting argued that the aim of the name change was to give a "spirit of community harmony, cohesion and inclusiveness". They are fine sentiments, but the Government should have adopted that approach in the first instance. The Government should have undertaken consultation in a spirit of community harmony, cohesion and inclusiveness. The Government should be prepared to admit when it has made a mistake, for that is the right thing to do.
The Liberal and National parties have a proud history in the area of ethnic and multicultural affairs, both at the State and the Federal level. In the early 1970s the Liberal-National Government established the first Department of Ethnic Affairs. In 1979 the Fraser Liberal-National Government established the Australian Institute of Multicultural Affairs, whose objectives included raising awareness of cultural diversity and promoting social cohesion, understanding and tolerance. The Federal Liberal and National parties also established in 1980 the Special Broadcasting Service, a great achievement that is lauded internationally. The original legislation for the Ethnic Affairs Commission in this State was established with bipartisan support.
The Greiner Government legislated the first anti-racial vilification laws in Australia. In the mid-1990s the Fahey Government unveiled the Charter of Principles for a Culturally Diverse Society— the first and most comprehensive charter of its type, which has been copied and adapted by other States and Territories. They are great achievements and a proud Coalition tradition which will continue under the leadership of the Hon. Kerry Chikarovski. I pay tribute also to the Hon. James Miltiadis Samios, who, throughout his working life both within the ethnic communities and as a member of the upper House, has fought hard to ensure that the Liberal and National parties commit themselves to continuing that tradition and pushing the boundaries for us in relation to ethnic and multicultural affairs.
The Coalition supports many aspects of this bill. It welcomes the bill's clear reference to multiculturalism. We were initially concerned that the concept of citizenship would be narrow, that it would refer only to Australian citizenship papers and exclude non-citizens who have been contributing to Australian society for decades. So the Government has got the broad definition of "citizenship" right. Indeed, a close examination of the Ethnic Affairs Commission Act 1979 and the Community Relations Commission and Principles of Multiculturalism Bill, which we are now debating, reveals many similarities. The broad thrust of the bill is similar to that of the Ethnic Affairs Commission Act and is therefore not controversial. We support those aspects. At the end of the day we are and always have been a multicultural society. Many hundreds of thousands of people have come to our shores over the past 200 years, especially since the 1940s, to build a new life for themselves and their families and to build a new country—tolerant, culturally diverse, proud of its British heritage and what we have inherited. But we have also opened our arms to those who want to contribute and make Australia the great place it is today.
We owe much to our migrant communities. Like other Australians, members of these communities have concerns and aspirations. They are worried about employment opportunities for the children. They are worried about access to health services, education and especially the present rising crime rates in their neighbourhoods. They aspire, as we all aspire, to a better future for our children. We must also recognise that ethnic communities have special needs. We must acknowledge the problems faced by these communities because of language and cultural difficulties and isolation. The bill has aspects which ought to be commended, and the Opposition does so. However, other aspects require amendment, and the Coalition will move amendments in another place.
Members on this side the House will measure the success or failure of the Government's policies in this area by their ability to do two things: to adequately consult in future—the ability of this Government to listen and respond to the concerns of our ethnic communities; and the Government's ability to deliver services to the community through well targeted grants, improved access to translations services or ensuring access to government and non-government services. There is no doubt that in this area money talks. Unless the Government is prepared to commit resources, service delivery on the ground simply cannot exist. They will be the measures of the Government's performance in this area. On behalf of the Leader of the Opposition and the shadow Minister for Ethnic Affairs the Opposition looks forward to constructively contributing to this vital area of State policy.
Mr NAGLE (Auburn) [7.52 p.m.]: The Community Relations Commission and Principles of Multiculturalism Bill is far-reaching legislation. We move on; the world changes. Now, after listening to the shadow Minister for Transport and Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party, do we really still have to continue dragging and pulling the Liberal and National parties into the twenty-first century? The electorate of Auburn has 48 different nationalities—excluding its Irish, Welsh, Scottish and English components. Most of the communities live in harmony with their neighbours. There are problems and those problems are dealt with. But there are no riots in the street. There is no war. There is no hatred. People go about their daily business—shopping, working, caring for the children and sending their children to school.
The electorate of Auburn is a poor multicultural electorate, with just on 90,000 people. It has been said that there has been a lack of community consultation on the bill but that has not been the case in my electorate. The bill was laid upon the table of the Parliament for some time to allow consideration and debate and now the House is debating it. One has only to look at those organisations in my electorate which promote community harmony and co-operation. I refer to the Turkish Welfare Association, the Islamic Cultural Trust, the Asian Welfare Association, the Australian Lebanese Association and numerous associations looking after the various ethnic communities, like the Bahanin Elminiel Association.
My electorate is not one in which One Nation would get much of a foothold. It is one where all the people feel that we should come together not for the purposes of so-called assimilation, as the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party said, but for the purposes of co-operation. His comment is trying to draw a longbow on a very short subject. The Ethnic Affairs Commission has been in existence for 20 years. The organisation pioneered the provision of language and other services for migrants. It has been active in promoting the benefits of multiculturalism and community harmony while fighting against racism and intolerance. Guess who introduced the first bill in this area? Neville Wran's Government introduced the Ethnic Affairs Commission Act in 1979. It was introduced by the Labor Party. Admittedly, it was done co-operatively with all political parties for the benefit and welfare of the people of the State of New South Wales. But it was also landmark Labor legislation, as is the bill introduced by the Premier, the Community Relations Commission and Principles of Multiculturalism Bill.
The term "ethnic" increasingly seems to be divisive, even in the electorate of Auburn. Sometimes it sets one section of the community apart from the mainstream community. Increasingly, people who have immigrated to Australia and their Australian-born children do not wish to be labelled with the word "ethnic". They find it offensive. In April 1999 the Premier announced that the Ethnic Affairs Commission would be reconstituted as the Community Relations Commission. It is now May 2000: one year has passed. During that time extensive consultation has taken place with various people from various communities. The new commission will be set up under its own legislation.
The bill provides for a commission comprising a full-time chairman and eight part-time commissioners. The bill contains a strong commitment to multiculturalism. The preamble makes a strong philosophical statement of commitment to a cohesive and inclusive society in which individuals have rights and obligations and in which English is the common language. It embraces the principles of multiculturalism. The objects and functions of the commission are spelt out. The bill establishes a consultative mechanism including regional advisory councils and a reporting requirement.
Many ethnic communities and organisations, including more than 40 Chinese organisations, have been consulted and have put on record their strong support for the legislation. Senior community leaders have presented a joint position on behalf of the Lebanese community. The New South Wales Islamic Centre, the Riverwood Australian-Arabic Association, the Jewish Board of Deputies, the Australian-Croatian Community Council, the United Croatian Clubs of New South Wales, various Italian organisations, the Queanbeyan Multilingual Centre, the Chairman of the Illawarra Ethnic Communities Council, Mr Neville Roach, OAM, Chairman of the Council of Multicultural Australia, and Dr Paolo Totaro, founding chair of the Ethnic Affairs Commission of New South Wales, have all given their support to the bill.
Multiculturalism has now become the official policy of the State. New South Wales will be the first State in Australia to enshrine the principles of multiculturalism in law. Multiculturalism will become the official policy of the State. New South Wales will be the first State in Australia to establish a Community Relations Commission. It will build on the achievements of the Ethnic Affairs Commission, which are numerous. Since 1979 the Ethnic Affairs Commission has done magnificent and fine work in regard to dealing with the various community issues that come before it in what is a very difficult area to deal with. As set out in the preamble of the bill, for the first time there is a recognition that the cultural diversity of the people of New South Wales is a strength and asset for the community. The preamble also states the Government's commitment to a multicultural and inclusive society. The Community Relations Commission will have new powers to undertake systematic and wide-ranging consultation with people and groups in respect of its objectives. This will enable the commission to be more proactive in identifying and responding to community needs.
The needs of the 48 different nationalities in my electorate are enormous. There is a huge problem with poverty. Because of problems the different communities have difficulty consulting one another. The communities have to move on and be part of the larger community but at the same time the different needs of individual ethnic communities must be identified. I thank the numerous ethnic associations in my electorate for the fine work that they do in assisting people of the electorate. The objects of the bill are to recognise that the people of New South Wales comprise different linguistic, religious, racial and ethnic backgrounds. I have an Irish-English background. This House has heard about my family's history. If one wanted to use the term "ethnic" to describe families who have emigrated to this State, I suppose it could be said that four generations ago my family was ethnic Irish. Four generations ago some fine Italian families came to this State and many others.
The bill also seeks to promote equal rights and responsibilities of all people of New South Wales within a comprehensive and harmonious multicultural society in which diversity is regarded as a strength and as an asset; in which individuals share a commitment to Australia; and in which, as I said previously, English is the common language. Children from various ethnic communities in my electorate who attend primary schools and high schools will continue with their education at universities or TAFE colleges. They will become this State's electricians, plumbers, bread-makers, bread carters, lawyers, doctors and engineers and they are making great contributions and great strides in spite of enormous adversity related to the poverty experienced by some ethnic communities, particularly in my electorate. Nevertheless, these people continue with their endeavours to ensure that they become strong individuals who are firm in their commitment to Australia.
In speeches I make at naturalisation ceremonies, I make the point, as I look around the room at each one of the newly naturalised citizens, that each could tell me a story which is the stuff of human drama. Every person who becomes a naturalised Australian citizen at ceremonies conducted by the Auburn Council or the Bankstown City Council has a story to tell about how they got to Australia, why they came here and the part that becoming an Australian citizen is playing in their lives. I have seen the look of happiness on the faces of these people when they become Australian citizens. They do not become naturalised for the sake of being issued with an Australian passport or to say that they are Australian citizens. Citizenship is a culmination of all their struggles and it is the stuff of which human drama is made.
The bill establishes the principles of multiculturalism based on citizenship as a policy of the State, including the recognition of the importance of shared values within a democratic framework, together with an overarching and unifying commitment to Australia, its interests and its future. The bill also provides for replacement of the Ethnic Affairs Commission with a Community Relations Commission because, in this the twenty-first century, this State has moved on. Changes have been made to membership of the commission whereby the number of commissioners has been reduced from 15 to not more than nine. Provision is made for either a full-time or part-time chairperson and for the appointment of regional advisory councils. This bill is a great piece of legislation. The commission's powers have been extended to enable it to refer to the Anti-Discrimination Board matters related to discrimination and racial vilification.
I acknowledge that a former Premier of New South Wales, Nick Greiner, introduced legislation to address racial vilification which was the first legislation of that type passed by an Australian Parliament. Be that as it may, the State Labor Government has strengthened the powers to fight racism. The Community Relations Commission and Principles of Multiculturalism Bill marks the first time that widespread initiatives have been enshrined in law by a government in Australia. This confirms New South Wales as a leader in multiculturalism in Australia and throughout the world. This bill is a fine piece of legislation. I commend the Premier and all organisations that have supported it.
I take this opportunity to point out that a comment made by the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party was not totally accurate in relation to support for the bill. The following extracts from the various letters will highlight the point I make. A letter was written to the Premier on 28 January 2000 signed by the immediate past president of the Chinese Australian Forum, the president of the Australian Chinese Community Association, the chairman of the Chinese Australian Services Society, the deputy secretary-general of the Australian Council of Chinese Organisations, the deputy chair of the Ethnic Affairs Commission, the president of the Chinese Youth League, and the chair of the Chinese Australian Union. The letter states in part:
We wish to advise you of our unanimous support for the Bill for the reasons that the Bill would enshrine the principles of multiculturalism in legislation; expand the functions of the Commission; expand the Commission's consultative structures; and create more cooperative structures between government agencies, business and community.
Moreover, a press statement released on 10 March 2000 by some of the organisations to which I have referred states:
We act in the interest of the community for we believe that the Bill is beneficial to the Chinese Australian community. We believe that Multiculturalism is already a factor in NSW and to have it enshrined in legislation is beneficial to all Australians.
The Australian Croatian Community Council wrote to the Premier on 17 April 2000 and stated:
The Croatian community is one of the most established migrant groups in Australia. As a community we have worked hard to make a contribution to this country and be recognised as Australians. Unfortunately, in recent times some people have sought to portray members of ethnic communities as something other than Australian.
We believe that the proposal to change the name of the Ethnic Affairs Commission to the Community Relations Commission is a timely one and it will bring a great benefit to the community at large.
Letters addressed to the Premier from the United Croatian Clubs of New South Wales dated 14 April 2000, the Jewish Board of Deputies dated 13 April 2000, the various Lebanese associations—signed by the executive chairman of Gateway Pharmaceuticals, a representative of Al Sharek Arts, the Moslem Women's Association, Dr Jamal Rifi, a medical practitioner, and Mr Ali Roude from the Islamic Council of New South Wales—and the Islamic Centre of Lakemba demonstrate support for the legislation and symbolise a stamp of approval from these organisations.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to please everyone. Parliamentarians are not in the business of trying to please people but, rather, are in the business of trying to do what is right. I believe that this legislation is doing the right thing by all ethnic communities. The bill provides for establishment of a Community Relations Commission which will relate to all Australians, irrespective of whether their origins are English, western and eastern European, Asian, North and South American, Pacific Islander or African. Each person is a part of one planet. People who live in Australia are all part of Australia. I commend the bill to the House.
Mr ASHTON (East Hills) [8.06 p.m.]: I was surprised by the speech made by the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party, the honourable member for Ku-ring-gai, who indicated that the Coalition would not oppose the bill, but then proceeded to quite unfairly put the boot into the Labor Government on other issues. As my colleague the honourable member for Auburn said, 20 years ago a former Labor Premier, Neville Wran, set up the Ethnic Affairs Commission. Although the commission was established through bipartisanship, it was not something that the Liberal Party and the National Party would necessarily have sought to do.
Mr Fraser: You have curtains at home like that tie, haven't you?
Mr ASHTON: The tie I am wearing has more colour than most of the frontbench members on the Opposition side of the Parliament. I suggest that the honourable member for Coffs Harbour remain silent to avoid being crushed again. The Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party also referred to a conversation he had with John Laws. Apparently someone telephoned John Laws and was not happy about some of the changes provided in the bill. While it is quite easy to be part of the John Laws program and say something with which John Laws would agree, that does not necessarily mean that those expressions of opinion will become the policy of the State Government of New South Wales.
A great deal of consultation has taken place since the legislation was first mooted. When the announcement was made that the Community Relations Commission would replace the Ethnic Affairs Commission, some people thought that the sky would fall in. Those fears have proved to be unfounded. Since I was elected to this Parliament last year, I have attended numerous functions, including some Filipino functions that have been attended by thousands of people. Not one person has approached me at those functions and expressed dissatisfaction about the change in the title of the Ethnic Affairs Commission or the auspices of that commission.
Mr Fraser: They would not tell you.
Mr ASHTON: They are very polite people, but that is something that they would tell me if they believed it. I have also attended Lebanese functions. For the benefit of honourable members who have probably never attended such a function—such as the honourable member for Coffs Harbour—I inform the House that those functions commence at 10.00 a.m. and finish at about 3.00 a.m. the following day. The honourable member for Coffs Harbour would have to be in bed by 3.00 a.m.
Mr Fraser: They are my good friends. The honourable member for Lismore is of Lebanese extraction and he is a very good man.
Mr ASHTON: None of the Lebanese people I know have raised that issue. The bill recognises that New South Wales society has moved on from a time 20 years ago when the word "ethnic" might have been adequate to a stage where it is no longer an appropriate term. The use of the word "ethnic" in schools, communities, pubs, clubs, churches and this Parliament reflects a diversity and a division, an attitude that some people are ethnics and some are not. That is not a good thing. The Community Relations Commission sets out to enshrine the principles of multiculturalism; it will be much better than the term "ethnic". Does the honourable member for Lismore expect me to address him as the ethnic member for Lismore or for me to say that he has done well as an ethnic to get elected to this Parliament?
Mr George: I am proud of it.
Mr ASHTON: The honourable member should be proud of his Lebanese background, but he does not necessarily have to walk around saying "I'm an ethnic and therefore I'm different to other members of this Parliament".
Mr George: No, but everyone else tells me I'm an ethnic.
Mr ASHTON: That may be remedied after this bill is passed and when people are a little more educated. The bill will enshrine multiculturalism—it will be the official policy of this State. It will also set up an inclusive and proactive Community Relations Commission. There will be recognition of the strength of cultural diversity and there will be a greater emphasis on community participation. When this bill was first mooted it was put out for community consultation. The Premier and the Minister Assisting the Premier on Citizenship were advised that many groups were happy with this change. The Opposition may not want to hear this but it will. The bill will provide new powers to work with local communities to resolve local issues. A policy will mandate the monitoring of the quality and delivery of services to the community.
The Ethnic Affairs Commission ensured that translators were available for people who had difficulty dealing with some of our government bureaucracies. It attempted to ensure that English as a second language was taught in schools. We have moved beyond that. Australia's population has grown in a much greater way. The language services will be maintained in recognition of their importance. The definition of "citizenship" will be broader. I congratulate the Premier and the Minister Assisting the Premier on Citizenship on recognising people who become citizens of this country. I have never had to become a citizen because I was born in Australia. The people who make the decision to become Australian citizens are especially proud of what they are doing. I have a special sense of affection for them when I attend the ceremonies. They are not giving away their culture but they are officially embracing Australian citizenship. That will be recognised in this bill. A Regional Advisory Council will give communities a greater say at the local level. There will be stronger powers to fight racism.
As honourable members know this State has anti-discrimination laws about racial vilification which are to be commended. The Community Relations Commission legislation will monitor that situation to ensure that these things continue to happen. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition referred to Paul Nicolaou, the current head of the Ethnic Community Council. I understand that he had some concerns about the change. I try to follow some of the politics of the ethnic community groups, as they are called at the moment. I understand that he is quite an active member of the Liberal Party and is a prospective Liberal candidate.
Mr Fraser: He is going to knock you off.
Mr ASHTON: He is quite welcome to run in East Hills, but he will be wasting his time. I think he has political ambitions. It does not matter that ethnic communities have active people in political parties—I am sure the Australian Labor Party have more than the Coalition. I think Paul Nicolaou sees this as a chance to put the boot into the Premier and into this Government because we are looking at changing the Ethnic Affairs Commission and setting up the Community Relations Commission. Paul Nicolaou is entitled to his comments, but let us not get too carried away with them. Tom Beram has been referred to during this debate. He may be a Liberal Party supporter in the Croatian community. I have been told that at various meetings of the Croatian community he has been the only dissenting voice; he has been the only one not to recognise that the proposed change is quite reasonable. Again, he is entitled to his opinion. However, it is pretty desperate when the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party has to pluck out the names of two people—who happen to be well connected Liberals—who are not happy with what is going on.
Today the word "ethnic" is anachronistic. It is derogatory to talk about "ethnics". The honourable member for Coffs Harbour may not find it derogatory in his community, but most people prefer not to hear the term. For example, Daryl Melham, the Federal member for Banks, has a Lebanese background. Daryl and his nine or 10 brothers and sisters are all highly respected members of the Australian Labor Party. Their father came to Australia in the late 1920s. Daryl was born in Australia in the late 1950s. The last of the Melhams was born in 1967. How long should the Melham family be preferred to as ethnics? How long would they prefer to be called ethnic Australians? They have a different cultural background. However, they play two-up on Anzac Day and watch the West Tigers so one wonders whether they are still maintaining the rage about their Lebanese culture.
The point I am making is simple: at what point is the line drawn under something and we say, "Let's move on, let's not use divisive terms such as 'ethnic' in that sense"? If people want to hold onto that term they are missing the point. The New South Wales Government is recognising with this legislation that in Australia there are linguistic differences, ethnic differences, and cultural differences —indigenous people have to be recognised too. The term "ethnic" should not be held onto in 2000. As a slight coup de grâce to the Coalition members who are interjecting, it is worth noting that the Government sought community input—
Mr Fraser: What language is coup de grâce?
Mr ASHTON: The honourable member for Coffs Harbour would not understand. I refer to letters the Government has received about the Community Relations Commission and Principles of Multiculturalism Bill. One letter states:
We wish to advise you of our unanimous support for the Bill for the reasons that the Bill would enshrine the principles of multiculturalism in legislation; expand the functions of the Commission; expand the Commission's consultative structures; and create more cooperative structures between government agencies, business and community …
Mr Fraser: Who is it addressed to?
Mr ASHTON: To the Premier, and Minister for Citizenship who is assisted by the Minister Assisting the Premier on Citizenship. The letter is signed by a number of people. Another letter, signed by the Australia-Croatian Community Council, states:
We believe that the proposal to change the name of the Ethnic Affairs Commission to the Community Relations Commission is a timely one and it will bring a great benefit to the community at large. As Australians—
note that—
we all need to pull together and be proud of our multicultural society. Through its activities the Croatian community has always sought to bring benefit and enrichment to the broader society.
A letter from the United Croation Clubs of New South Wales states:
We are writing to convey our support for the Community Relations Commission and Principles of Multiculturalism Bill.
The New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies states in a letter:
I confirm that the wording of the new preamble to the statement of the four principles of multiculturalism is agreed to by the board …
I take the opportunity to commend you and the Government for consulting with the ethnic communities in detail about the specific provisions of the Bill in order to arrive at a consensus. The passing of the Bill into law will, I am sure, be seen by the whole community as a milestone achievement.
A letter from the World Lebanese Cultural Union, the Australian Lebanese Association of New South Wales, the Lebanese Community Council of New South Wales, the Australian Lebanese Chamber of Commerce, the Australian Lebanese Christian Federation and the Lebanese Moslem Association states:
We thank your Government for the opportunity it has offered for community consideration and discussion of this bill. In our community's discussions regarding the proposal legislation, there has been overwhelming support for the intent of this legislation.
The communication from the Islamic Centre, which is based in Lakemba, is good news for the honourable member for Coffs Harbour:
This document gave me the sensation of a dawning of a new era over the State of New South Wales. The suggestions and recommendations that were contained in this booklet have given Multi-Culturalism in Australia a new role that confirms the sincerity of this policy and gives it a more fitting identity. It has also added a new dimension and sealed the cracks and plugged the gaps that were emerging in the previous policy.
It then says:
The word "Ethnic" or "Ethnic Communities" always imposed upon a large section of the Australian community a variety of negative impressions that threatened Multi-Culturalism.
It then lists some of those negative impressions. The Australian Arabic Association of Riverwood writes:
Our Association supports the role which the new Commission will have in establishing Regional Advisory Councils to resolve issues and improve services at the local level, and looks forward to being involved in this process.
Another is from the Italian Association of Assistance, known as Co.As.It. It also expressed appreciation of what the Government is doing. The Community Relations Commission and Principles of Multiculturalism Bill is something of a watershed in this Parliament. After 20 years, it is recognition that we need to move further afield. It is recognition that the term "ethnic" has had its day and that it would be much better to talk in terms of community and diversity and the Community Relations Commission. I congratulate the Premier, as I congratulate those from this side and from the Opposition side who will speak in support of the bill. I congratulate also the Minister Assisting the Premier on Citizenship on the introduction of this bill.
Ms SALIBA (Illawarra) [8.21 p.m.]: I support the Community Relations Commission and Principles of Multiculturalism Bill. This bill highlights the need for us to grow and change as our community grows and changes. I represent a community that is very much multicultural. In fact, the Illawarra was built on the backs of immigrants. In 1964, when I was just a child, my family migrated to the Illawarra. I came from Scotland. My husband migrated to Australia from Malta. We have two children who are Korean, another who is Lao-Hungarian, and a ring-in Aussie as well. We embrace Australia as our home.
I support the bill because it respects the fact that most of us come from other countries. It respects the individual, and the individual's ethnic background, while recognising the individual as part of a cultural community as well as a member of the Australian community. Our schools now teach citizenship and civics, so that all Australians will be aware of their rights and obligations as citizens of this country. We must be able to be ourselves, to speak the languages with which we are comfortable, and to practise our cultures, but we must also understand that we are part of the Australian nation. This bill does away with exclusiveness. It includes all people from all racial backgrounds.
At times I have felt that some groups seem to have been left out when it came to consideration of ethnic affairs. For example, the Australian Aboriginals have a cultural background that is different from mine and those of other Australians. Changes made by the bill will enable all Australians to be included. A key feature of the bill is that multiculturalism will become the official policy of this State. New South Wales will be the first State to embrace the principles of multiculturalism in law. The bill sets up an inclusive and proactive Community Relations Commission.
The bill recognises cultural diversity as a strength, enabling Australians to remain part of the communities that they come from and to freely practise their religions, linguistics and cultures without feeling they must belong to one particular group or another. This bill, I repeat, recognises cultural diversity as a strength. The preamble to the bill notes that this legislation recognises the diversity of backgrounds of the people of New South Wales as an asset of this community. I recognise it as such in the Illawarra community. It places greater emphasis on community participation, that is, understanding one's responsibilities and rights. This bill will allow people to exercise their rights and fulfil their obligations, regardless of their linguistic, religious, racial and ethnic backgrounds.
The bill gives new powers to help local communities to resolve local issues, as well as introducing measures to deal with issues related to cultural diversity. Communities will be able to form task forces to respond more quickly to the needs of communities in given areas. The bill contains a mandate to monitor quality and delivery of services to the community. It gives legislative power to monitor government departments and agencies in the development and delivery of quality services to ethnic communities as well as individuals. There are many who do not belong to any particular community or group but have chosen to be part of the wider community.
Recognition is given to the importance of language services. It is important that the legislation makes specific reference to the commission's role as a key provider of interpreting and translation services. Of course, it contains a broader definition of citizenship, with a meaning going beyond becoming an Australian citizen. I referred earlier to our schools teaching citizenship and civics, which are about realising one's responsibilities and rights as a resident of Australia and an Australian citizen. The bill makes specific reference to individuals of diverse linguistic, cultural, religious and racial backgrounds being able to unite through their commitment to New South Wales and to Australia. In the Illawarra Mercury on Monday 28 February 2000 Mr George Ackaoui, Chairman of the Illawarra Ethnic Communities Council, made some comments. George considers himself a true-blue Aussie. He embraces the country, the people and the social customs, but what particularly struck me is that the Egyptian-born Mr Ackaoui, who came to Australia in 1956, still encounters prejudice. His comment is:
How long are they going to call me ethnic?
He does not want to being known as "an ethnic". He wants to be known as a person, as an individual, and be respected for who he is and what he is. All of us have our own backgrounds, our family upbringings and our particular cultures, and all of those features help us to be what we are today. I am really proud to say that in my family we practise respecting each other and each other's cultures, and we encourage our children to know their cultures, to be proud of who they are and to learn how to deal with other schoolchildren who may not respect who they are. We should not be concerned about what country these children were born in or what colour their skin is; we should be concerned about who they are as people. This bill will encourage the community to respect people for who they are, not what they are. That is why tonight I speak in support of this bill. I commend the Premier for his forward thinking and for his legislative planning.
Ms NORI (Port Jackson—Minister for Small Business, and Minister for Tourism) [8.30p.m.]: As someone who grew up in New South Wales and who was referred to in the 1950s as a new Australian, and some rather less pleasant things, I am proud to be able to support this bill. Leaving aside the unpleasant words, we have now progressed to calling immigrants new Australians and ethnics. I am proud to be able to speak in this Chamber as an Australian—an Australian born in Newcastle and brought up in Leichhardt by Italian immigrant parents. I am aware of the problems and difficulties faced by Australians from non-Anglo-Celtic backgrounds. It can be alienating and confusing if people feel a bit like an outsider in the only country that they have known as home.
It is fair to say that the kind of experiences that I and my family had in the 1950s and 1960s, in that first post-war wave, have become increasingly less important, hence the introduction of this bill. This bill is about renewal. It is about recognising that the formulation of good public policy is an evolutionary process and not a static process. Laws cannot remain static; they cannot remain the same when the times and circumstances that spawned them in the first place have changed. This bill is important because it recognises that we have had our first, second and third waves of immigration. From the 1950s onwards Australia went through a process of becoming multicultural, but it is clearly multicultural at present. The terminology of the past served its purpose, but it no longer serves that purpose. The Minister for Public Works and Services, the Hon. Morris Iemma, a fellow Italo-Australian, when introducing this bill, quoted Dr Paolo Totaro, the Chair of the New South Wales Ethnic Commission, as saying:
When the Ethnic Affairs Commission was established its ultimate achievement would have been to do itself out of a job. The changes now proposed for the Commission are a way of acknowledging that some of its charter has been achieved and it is time to move on to new challenges and to present the ancient themes of diversity and acceptance in a new language.
I could not agree more with the views of Dr Totaro. The change in nomenclature more clearly enunciates the role and the importance of this legislation than it would have done if we had retained the same title. This bill is about inclusion; it is about the description of common goals for all Australian citizens, regardless of their parental heritage or the country in which they may have been born. This bill is about recognising diversity, but it is also about inclusion. The bill is trying to formulate a common goal for us all. As I said earlier, I can remember as a child being called a new Australian and few other things to boot. But when I was in my twenties I suddenly became an ethnic. I hated that term then and I have hated it all my life.
I hate the term "ethnic" because it was often used as a slur. It was certainly often used, perhaps unintentionally, by people as a way of compartmentalising others—as a way of making people feel like non-persons. I disliked the word then and I have not liked it since. I am so glad that this legislation will ensure that that word will no longer be able to be used. Happily, for those of Italian background like me, the stigma has to some extent died because Italian immigration is more than half a century old, with the first Italian immigrants arriving in Australia around the time of the First World War.
I know that members of new immigrant communities experience some of the same difficulties that I experienced as a child. But there have been some fundamental changes in our society since my parents came to Australia. I remember members of my family telling me that if they started talking to each other in Italian on the bus they would have been abused. I do not believe that happens now. I wish I had been given a dollar every time I was laughed at as a child because I had salami sandwiches. People in Australia now eat at Italian restaurants every chance they get. I remember the humiliation I suffered as a small child when people inspected my sandwiches every day. Now all they want to do is eat at Italian restaurants. However, let me put in a plug for my mother. No matter what Italian restaurant I have eaten at I have not found one that offers food of the quality prepared by my mother.
Australia now has a vibrant multicultural society—a society that is more welcoming of people from diverse national and cultural backgrounds. Loneliness and isolation are universal problems facing people settling in a new country, but there is no doubt that it is a lot easier to settle in a country that is as diverse and as welcoming as is undoubtedly modern Australia. This is most true of New South Wales, which, no doubt, is the reason why so many new migrants choose to settle in this State. It is exciting to be in New South Wales at a time of such positive change. Future generations of Australians will look back on this legislation that we are debating today as a milestone in the evolving nature of Australia as a multicultural nation. It is an honour to be part of the Government that introduced this legislation.
Madam ACTING-SPEAKER (Ms Beamer): Order! I welcome to the Chamber a number of representatives from licensed clubs in the Illawarra region. The representatives are guests of the honourable member for Keira.
Mr CAMPBELL (Keira) [8.37 p.m.]: Madam Speaker, I thank you for acknowledging the presence in the Chamber of my guests. They represent an important industry in the Illawarra region. I am delighted to have an opportunity to speak in debate on this bill. I represent an area comprising people from 80 different cultural backgrounds—people who have come to Australia over a period of time and who have helped to develop the Illawarra region. Those migrants from around the world have contributed to industry, cultural life, sporting life, business and the community generally. They have contributed to the sense of community that we enjoy in the Wollongong and Illawarra region.
People from non-Anglo-Celtic backgrounds have worked against adversity to ensure that we have a strong and vibrant community. They are respected members of our community and they enjoy the support of others for the contribution that they have made and that they continue to make. However, that has not always been the case. In the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, language which was used to address people from non-English speaking background included words such as wog, dago, chink, slope and kraut. In my primary school and high school years I used that language, much to my shame and discredit, as I now understand its meaning. The term "new Australian" was also used.
More recently, in the 1980s and 1990s, the word "ethnic" has come into use. I think the word "ethnic" now has the same connotation as the words I used earlier. That is why I strongly support this bill, which is about removing another label from people of non-English speaking backgrounds. This bill is about enshrining the concept of multiculturalism in our community; it is about taking away another nickname, another slur, another slang word and ensuring that we have one community in this state—a community comprising people from extremely diverse cultural backgrounds and a community in which people make contributions, are considered as equals, work as equals and live as equals.
I spoke earlier about the community of Wollongong being made up of people from over 80 cultural backgrounds. The honourable member for Swansea interjects very quietly, and I acknowledge that a large number of Greek people live in the Illawarra. I thank the honourable member for Swansea for that. A number of organisations based in the region work with and support people from a number of different cultures. I want to acknowledge some of them that are physically based in the electorate of Keira. They are of course the Dutch-Australian Society in the Illawarra, or DASI, as it is known, which for many years has been located at Woonona and has given a real sense of community and support to people from the Dutch culture.
The Fraternity Licensed Club started as a friendship association for the Italian community. In a debate earlier this evening the honourable member for Murrumbidgee made a comment about the contributions of the Italians to the Illawarra. The Fraternity Licensed Club is very much a place of celebration for people of Italian heritage. The Polish Club is again a social and community club located within the electorate of Keira. A number of years ago the Pakistani community took over a disused community hall from Wollongong City Council. They renovated it and established a presence in the community. The Pakistanis make a particular contribution. A Turkish language school operates out of the Fairy Meadow Demonstration School. They are some of the groups from a non-English-speaking background that are represented and located within the electorate of Keira.
I could speak for a long -time about those who are represented in the broader Wollongong community, but it is for those people and the contribution they have made to our community that I support this legislation. It takes away another tag and develops the theme of multiculturalism. It continues to encourage the fact that we are one community, one society, a group of people who have to work together in the sense of multiculturalism. We are not a Celtic community, we are not an ethnically based community but one community that has a multitude of cultures who work and play and who have the same aspirations for their children. They want to encourage their children to be a part of this community. They are all the reasons why I support the bill, why I support the approach that has been taken and why I think we need to acknowledge the leadership shown by the Premier. The Premier wants to ensure leadership is shown to these people and to the broader community.
It is somewhat unfortunate that the Leader of the Opposition does not seem able to embrace the fact that we need to move on. We need to get over the words of the 1950s, the 1960s, the 1970s, the 1980s and 1990s. We have to get rid of the word "ethnic" and we have to stop calling the Leader of the Opposition the shadow Minister for Ethnic Affairs. We have to move forward as a multicultural community to build a very strong community in which people feel comfortable, equal and valued. They are all the reasons why I support this legislation. I am delighted to have the opportunity to speak on it this evening.
Mr MOSS (Canterbury—Parliamentary Secretary) [8.43 p.m.]: I believe I am very well qualified to speak in debate on this legislation. The first reason I am qualified is the same reason that all members of this Parliament are qualified to speak on the legislation: we are all members of this multicultural society. I emphasise that point because too often those of us from a Celtic background, such as I am, or an Anglo-Saxon background tend to dissociate from the multicultural society. Multiculturalism embraces us all. That was the whole idea of multiculturalism: me in my culture sharing that with people from other cultures. So, we are all qualified to speak on this very important issue.
I am also qualified, I believe, because I am proud to say I come from one of the most culturally diverse areas in New South Wales, together with my colleague beside me, the Minister for Public Works and Services, and Minister Assisting the Premier on Citizenship. I know a couple of members of this Parliament can boast electorates of larger communities of overseas constituents, but no electorate in New South Wales can claim the cultural diversity of Canterbury. My electorate falls largely within the municipality of Canterbury, in which well over 140 different nationalities are residing—that is people born in 140 different countries. My electorate takes in, I am proud to say, the league of nations. It is indeed a privilege and an honour for me to speak on this bill.
There are just three aspects of the bill I want to refer to briefly. The first is that multiculturalism is now official. The principles of multiculturalism are enshrined in the law. That sends a real message to Pauline Hanson supporters and to other racists in the State. If those sorts of people continue to dismiss multiculturalism after this bill is passed, they will be at odds with the law. From now on the law will officially recognise New South Wales as a multicultural society. The second aspect of the bill is that there is now to be a greater emphasis on community participation. That is encouraging people to fulfil their obligations regardless of their linguistic, religious, racial or ethnic background. That is saying to them that under this measure they have a right to be proud of their background, because it encourages people to exercise their rights, and that at the same time they have a responsibility to society regardless of their background. That is a very important aspect of the bill.
The other point I am interested in is that regional advisory councils are to be established to give communities a greater say at the local level. I often feel that members of various communities living in remote areas of the State, in electorates where the majority of residents were born in this country, do not fare as well as. For example, various cultural groups in my own area who have a tremendous amount of clout. They have the numbers and they can demand a certain amount of service. They can get together and enjoy themselves in their own way. But those living in remote areas of the State do not fare as well. Regional councils are going to go a long way to bridge that gap. I am pleased, too, that this legislation has the endorsement of a number of members from major communities in my region. Mr Henry Pan and Mr Tony Pun from the Chinese community are very supportive of the legislation and have written to the Premier in that regard. Dr Jemal Rifi and Mr Ali Roudi of the Islamic Council of New South Wales also support the bill.
One of the big issues in this is the changing of the name of the Ethnic Affairs Commission to Community Relations Commission. The Minister for Small Business, and Minister for Tourism put it right when she pointed out that when she was a young person in this country she was known as a new Australian, was referred to as a new Australian and was sometimes given worse names than that, and she did not like it. She went on to say that, equally, as years went on and the term "new Australian" went out of vogue and the term "ethnic" came in she found that term just as repulsive. It still set her apart, there was still a certain stigma attached to that term. The words "community relations" embrace us all. The bill is all about multiculturalism, which includes all members of society, as I said at the outset. We are all members of a multicultural society. This bill will go a lot further towards uniting us as members of this multicultural society.
Mr GLACHAN (Albury) [8.49 p.m.]: I am speaking in this debate because I would not like people to think that only members opposite represent electorates which have constituents with a diverse range of backgrounds. The people in my electorate of Albury have a wide range of national backgrounds. We are proud of them and of the contribution they have made to our community and society. In the latter half of the nineteenth century people of German background and Wendish background—they were from an area that was once Polish and has been disputed by Germany and Poland for many years—came to Albury along the Murray River from South Australia and settled in places such as Jindera, Burrumbuttock, Holbrook and other parts in the Albury electorate. Those people played a major role in the establishment of agriculture in our area.
Before those people arrived, other German migrants came to Albury and established a thriving grape-growing and wine-producing industry. Unfortunately, the industry was wiped out when phylloxera affected the roots of the grape stock. Those people stayed and now their descendants are highly respected people with German surnames who live and work in the Albury area. Statistics show that one in five Australians was born overseas or has parents who were born overseas. I am one of those people because both of my parents were born in other countries. My father was born in Scotland and my mother was born in New Zealand. Interestingly, although I am of Celtic background, my second Christian name is a Greek name. As everyone knows, my second name is Doric, which was the name of the ship on which my mother's father was born while his family was on its way to Australia from Cornwall.
I am proud of that name, proud of that association and proud of the fact that both of my parents were born overseas. As a child I used to find it was something unique and different about me. I was proud of my second name and used it as often as I could simply because I was proud of it. I am much older than many honourable members here. When I was at primary school in the 1940s every child in the class had a simple British name. The boys were Jack, Bill and Tom and the girls were Shirley, Betty and Norma, and they had British surnames. I remember once that a boy named Carl came to school. I cannot think of his second name but he was unique and different because he was Norwegian. His parents came to Australia to escape the Nazi occupation of Norway. He was a unique figure in the school. I am sorry to say that he was misunderstood and victimised by many of the other children because his name was Carl, which was a name we had never heard of.
Interestingly, I had a friend whose surname was Rich. I think his family name was Richenhofer. They were German people who had been here for generations. When my friend's brother joined the Australian Army at the outbreak of World War II he changed his name because he did not want to have a German name. He changed his name to Rich, and the family changed its name but not by deed poll; they simply started to call themselves Rich and no-one questioned it. Strange things happened in those days.
It is interesting that the honourable member for Canterbury has spoken in this debate. I can remember not long ago seeing on the front page of the Sydney Morning Herald a photograph taken in the 1950s of the girls who were undertaking Leaving Certificate exams at Canterbury High School. The names of all the girls were noted, and they were all British. Below that was a photograph of the girls doing the Higher School Certificate that year, only a couple of years ago, at Canterbury Girls High School. Not one of the girls had a British name. We really are a multicultural society, and we are proud of that. Opposition members are proud of that, and many of them have ethnic backgrounds. They are proud of those backgrounds and they are proud, as I am proud, to represent their communities in this Parliament.
I remind honourable members that Bonegilla, which is just across the border from Albury in Wodonga, was one place where thousands of people from war-torn Europe came after the war. They brought with them their families and their hopes and aspirations for the future; they were seeking a new life in a free country. They were welcomed by the Albury-Wodonga community. They took up homes in the Albury-Wodonga community. They worked hard to establish themselves and their families, and they have been a credit to our society. They are valued members of our community. We are all very proud of them.
Mr STEWART (Bankstown—Parliamentary Secretary) [8.56 p.m.]: It is a privilege to speak strongly in support of this bill. It was great to hear the honourable member for Albury speak about the background of his electorate and the importance of a diverse ethnic community to his electorate. It is a pity that we have not heard more from members opposite about that. The honourable member for Lismore is of Lebanese background. I see in this House the honourable member for Coffs Harbour, who has a Scottish background, and the honourable member for Heffron. The honourable member for Mulgoa is an immigrant from Liverpool, England. Clearly, Fraser, Beamer and Grusovin are not all Anglicised names.
Mrs Grusovin: I married one of them.
Mr STEWART: That does not matter. We should not lose sight of the fact that we are an immigrant society. Tonight we are celebrating the recognition of multiculturalism in this great State. We should probably be celebrating it on a national basis. It is a great shame that we do not have a Prime Minister who wants to acknowledge our multiculturalism. He does not want to look in the mirror and face the facts about who we are as a nation. I am very proud of it. My surname is Stewart and I have a Scottish background. I am a product of multiculturalism.
Mr George: Are you related to Fraser?
Mr STEWART: I hope not. I will have to check the family tree and knock off a few branches if that is the case. I am a product of multiculturalism. I have lived through the problems of ethnic diversity in this State. My mother was born in Egypt but is of Maltese background. Her maiden name was Pisani, which accounts for my big nose. My father's father was from Scotland, his mother was from Ireland and my maternal grandmother was from Malta. That shows that I am a product of multiculturalism, and I am proud of that. However, when I was growing up in Bankstown I was not very proud of my ethnic background. In the 1970s people did not claim their ethnic background; they were embarrassed by it. People were afraid to talk about their multicultural backgrounds. I can recall being called a wog as I was going to school and while I was at school. I felt terrible about that. I recall a time when I was at Bankstown Square and being afraid to let my Anglo school mates see that I was having dinner with my Maltese and Italian grandparents. That is a terrible thing to say but that is what happened to me while I was growing up in a country that was too black and white in its perspective.
Thankfully, I can report to the Parliament that that perspective has changed a great deal. It has happened over a period of time, but it has happened for the good of everyone. The bill reflects that change and the fact that we are continuing the growing process. It is pleasing to note that, for the first time, multiculturalism is enshrined in legislation. Every day we talk about the benefits of multiculturalism, but to enshrine it in legislation and to understand it in a legislative sense is important. New South Wales is at the forefront of such legislation in Australia. However, it is clear that other States are now following suit. It is clear that New South Wales is setting the trend for the recognition and celebration of multiculturalism in this country. I applaud the bill's direction. I admit that when it was initially announced in April last year I was a little apprehensive about it. I was apprehensive because I come from an electorate which has constituents of around 130 different nationalities. The honourable member for Canterbury indicated that his electorate has constituents of around 140 nationalities. That is a tremendous mixing pot of nationalities. But it does work: there is a cohesion in the Bankstown-Canterbury community.
There is a sense of belonging and a sense of understanding between the different communities. We do not have the tensions, concerns and problems that are sometimes stereotyped by the media. It is disappointing that sometimes the media wants to stereotype the multicultural aspects of the Bankstown community and try to turn that into a negative. Day by day and year by year we have proven that it is not a negative for the local area but a positive. It is extremely pleasing that multiculturalism is being enshrined in legislation for the first time. Ethnic community leaders in my electorate have said to me and to the wider community that they have grown through this stage and they do not want to be branded by that stereotype. They want to be regarded as part of the wider Australian community. They also want it to be understood that there are special needs within their growing new Australian communities. Enshrining multiculturalism through this bill is important, and setting up an all-inclusive and proactive Community Relations Commission is the way to go.
The Ethnic Affairs Commission of New South Wales is a snapshot of the values and needs of the 1980s. The commission has served a great purpose, most recently under the chairmanship of Stepan Kerkyasharian. Because of the needs and social values of society we need to continue to change. As I said, the establishing of a proactive Community Relations Commission is definitely the best way to go. That is strongly acknowledged by those of the different nationalities that are represented in my electorate. This legislation enshrines cultural diversity as a strength in New South Wales. The honourable member for Coffs Harbour may yawn at that. However, I point out to him that if it were not for the diversity of our local communities there would not be a Coffs Harbour or a New South Wales. These are the people who reached out to the communities. These are the people who worked the farms in the Coffs Harbour area and made it the success it is now. It is perplexing that the honourable member for Coffs Harbour yawns about that. I suggest that the honourable member should look in the mirror and see where he came from.
Mr Fraser: Point of order: The honourable member for Bankstown indicated I was yawning. I admit that I was yawning. However, I was not yawning at his speech or the content of it. I take objection to his remarks and ask him to withdraw them.
Mr STEWART: I can only say that I made an observation based on the situation I saw in front of me.
Madam ACTING-SPEAKER (Ms Beamer): If the honourable member for Coffs Harbour yawned, the honourable member for Bankstown may perhaps comment on it. If the honourable member for Coffs Harbour is so tired, perhaps he would should get a pair and leave the Chamber.
Mr Fraser: Further to the point of order: I object to the honourable member's remarks about my reason for yawning. I admit that I yawned. Given the way he delivers his speeches, at times it makes people yawn. I did not make any comment with regard to the content of his contribution. I ask him to withdraw his remarks about my reason for yawning in this House.
Madam ACTING-SPEAKER: Order! There is no point of order. At the outset the honourable member for Coffs Harbour treated the matter as somewhat of a jest. If he had not done so, I would perhaps take the matter more seriously. The honourable member for Bankstown may resume his contribution.
Mr STEWART: I applaud the bill. It places greater emphasis on community participation. Legislation should be about participation. It should be about consultation and about getting the multicultural community involved in decision-making processes. That has not been the result of past legislation. We have not adequately discharged that responsibility. The legislation meets those needs head on and provides a regime for the multicultural community to become proactively involved in consultation, decision-making processes, and the parochial needs of the community. All of those matters are important. It is also important to monitor the delivery of community services. This bill addresses that need. The Community Relations Commission will be given legislative power to monitor the development, diversity and delivery of quality services by government departments to multicultural and ethnic communities. In theory that may seem easy, but in practice it has been found not to be so. The bill analyses that need and moves towards ensuring quality control in the delivery of services to multicultural communities.
Importantly, the bill acknowledges the importance of language services. Honourable members will be aware that the Ethnic Affairs Commission has specialised in that area, but the provision of interpreting and translation services has now been enshrined in legislation. Those services are very important in an area such as Bankstown, where I, as the local member, need to be able to use interpreting services daily. Those services are provided by the New South Wales Government through the Community Relations Commission. I applaud the Premier for ensuring that the delivery of this service is in place. It is extremely important for people with new Australian backgrounds, who need to have the assistance of interpreting and translation services. When they make an application, visit their local member, go to the Department of Housing, or when they seek local services, they need to be confident that they can rely on the interpreting and translation services provided by the commission.
I applaud the strong powers enshrined in the bill to fight racism. Not long ago we were fighting concerns caused by One Nation, the difficulties caused by stereotyping and the racism that emerged from that. The commission's powers have been extended to enable it to refer to the Anti-Discrimination Board matters relating to racial vilification and to have those matters resolved in a positive and constructive way. The legislation provides for accountability, so that those who are narrow-minded or one-sided, who choose to stereotype, or who choose to denigrate our multicultural communities will pay the cost of isolating themselves from the mainstream Australian society. That is the society that built the backbone of the community that I belong to, the community that surrounds me, and the wider Australian community. I commend the bill to the House. I am sure it will greatly benefit my constituency.
Mr FRASER (Coffs Harbour) [9.09 p.m.]: Although I had not intended to speak in this debate, I indicate the Opposition's support for the bill and take up the comments made by the honourable member for Bankstown about my yawning. The honourable member bores me at times and, at the end of the day in this House, I yawned. I took objection to the honourable member's comments, yet he still has not withdrawn them. When all is said and done, honourable members are examining a legislation that is pure politics, and that is the game being played by the honourable member for Bankstown.
I am extremely proud of the cultural background of my electorate. The banana industry in my electorate was basically founded by Italian banana growers. The names Spagnolo, Borsato and dozens of others are well-known names in my electorate, and roads in the electorate bear those names. There is a large Sikh community in my electorate. Indeed, it is probably one of the largest Sikh communities outside the major metropolitan areas of New South Wales. All those people regard themselves as Australians first and foremost. There is also a Filipino community in my electorate. The Coffs Harbour electorate has constituents of more than 41 nationalities. I am extremely proud of the Multicultural Access and Resource Service in my electorate and I strongly support the diversity of my community.
As the honourable member for Bankstown mentioned earlier, I have a Scottish background, and I am extremely proud of it. My young son plays the bagpipes. During Easter, I attended the Scottish festival at Maclean. We live in a multicultural society in Australia and all the first generations of the people of Australia, including the Aborigines, were immigrants. The amusing part about this legislation is that the honourable member for Bankstown referred to the inappropriateness of the term "ethnic". I quote the honourable member for Bankstown, who said, "Ethnic community leaders in my electorate support this bill." He should use the correct terminology because attitude, not terminology, is what needs to be changed in relation to multiculturalism in Australia.
A good friend of mine who is Indian was born and raised in South Africa and is married to a Scottish lass. They are now both Australian citizens and their children are Australian. They are wonderful people and are close personal friends of mine; they celebrate the fact that they are Australians. They have obtained Australian citizenship. He is a doctor, she is a highly qualified nursing sister and they have wonderful children. Their household is one that is proud to be Australian, and I am not happy referring to them as ethnic or by any other term. They are my friends and they are Australians. The diversity of Australia is now acknowledged. The Indian community is involved in the banana industry, and the role that is played by diverse Australian cultures in developing Australia and its industries such as the banana industry cannot be overstated. I wholeheartedly recognise that contribution.
As I said earlier, I am very proud of the various backgrounds of the people who live in my community. All immigrant families in this great country produce Australians as their second generation. During this debate, the Minister for Small Business, and Minister for Tourism referred to her background. It is sad that in times past people were ridiculed because of their accents. A very good friend of mine in Coffs Harbour is Scottish and at times he is a very difficult to understand, despite having lived in this country for more than 30 years. When he has had a couple of glasses of single malt, he is even more difficult to understand! He cops a bit of flak, too.
Mrs Grusovin: It is worse when you are black.
Mr FRASER: It probably is worse for people who are black and for those who have thick accents, but at the end of the day Australia is country with a mature society that recognises diverse backgrounds; its people unite as Australians. It is a matter of regret that the Government prepared this bill without full consultation. I honestly believe that in the first instance the Premier made an announcement about this legislation as part of a political ploy based on race, and that is somewhat sad. My children have not been educated by me or by any of the schools they have attended in any way, shape or form to be racist. Many of their friends come from varied backgrounds; their friends' parents speak with accents. I acknowledge that accented speech is sometimes ridiculed but that is a matter to be remedied by education. The lunacy of introducing legislation which has the effect of making the word "ethnic" unacceptable was reflected in the words of the honourable member for Bankstown, who stated, "Ethnic community leaders in my electorate support the bill." Perhaps the honourable member for Bankstown needs some education. I reiterate both my objection to his comments about my yawning and my request that the honourable member withdraw his remarks. As I said earlier, with some reservations, I support the legislation.
Mr LYNCH (Liverpool) [9.15 p.m.]: The legislation before the House has a number of interesting aspects. I have previously in this place made comments about the naming of the Community Relations Commission and I see no reason to change or to resile from my previous comments in relation to that. During this debate, I will instead deal with parts of the legislation referring to the principle of multiculturalism that are matters of great significance to my electorate. According to Australian Bureau of Statistics [ABS] figures, 65 percent of the people who live in my electorate were born outside Australia or were born of parents of whom at least one was born outside Australia. A large proportion of those people come from non Anglo-Saxon backgrounds, so the principles of multiculturalism are of particular significance to an electorate such as the electorate of Liverpool.
The interesting feature of this legislation is that multiculturalism is more than a principle. As it relates to areas such as my electorate, multiculturalism is not a philosophy or a set of words. Rather, it is a description of a way of life because it is a multicultural area and is not simply an area for which the principles are important. Indeed, the cultural and ethnic diversity of an area such as the Liverpool electorate is something that is celebrated and recognised as a strength. For all those reasons, this legislation is important. Moreover, while the word "multicultural" is a description of the community in which I live and which I represent, sometimes things happen that are very much contrary to those principles. From time to time, people are treated differently and, almost by definition, badly because they come from non Anglo-Saxon backgrounds.
As honourable members who preceded me in this debate have quite legitimately done, I could list all the non Anglo-Saxon backgrounds that are represented in my electorate, but I will not do so. Instead, I will deal with a specific case which illustrates why this bill is important in enshrining in legislation the principles of multiculturalism and in describing it as a policy of this State. I cite a very disturbing incident that occurred concerning one of my constituents, Mr Kayed Toufaili, who I have known for approximately three years. Last Thursday, 27 April, at about 11 o'clock in the morning we had a telephone conversation. He contacted my electorate office earlier and I returned his call. He told me that he had recently been contacted by his wife and told that two people had visited his house. They were wearing plain clothes and spoke to his pregnant wife and said, "Look, Mr Toufaili is not in any trouble, but we are from the Government and we need to talk to him about the Olympic Games." They left a business card which simply stated a person's name, a telephone number, a fax number and bore the Australian Commonwealth crest. No other details of the agency or organisation they represented were given.
Mr Toufaili's wife conveyed all that information to him and he subsequently phoned the number shown on the card. The telephone was answered not by someone giving his name or by stating the name of the agency, but simply by someone stating the telephone number so that, clearly, the name of the agency and the name of the person answering the telephone were not disclosed. The person who answered the telephone said that he wanted to speak personally to Mr Toufaili, and Mr Toufaili arranged a meeting for later that day. He met those two people at his home. When they came into his home, they said that they wanted to speak to him because they were interested in security for the Olympics and he had an Arabic background.
Upon further examining and questioning by Mr Toufaili, the people admitted that they were from the Australian Security and Intelligence Organisation [ASIO]. They were concerned that Mr Toufaili was a terrorist or that he might know some terrorists. Frankly, the only crime Mr Toufaili had committed was to have an Arabic family name and at some stage to have come from Lebanon. Mr Toufaili—this alleged or suspected terrorist—came to Australia in 1974 at 14 years of age. He is such a terrorist threat to this country that he was accepted to work in the RAAF, where one would have thought that there was at least a modicum of security check. There seems to be absolutely no link or evidence to suggest that Mr Toufaili might be doing anything that should bring him to the notice of the security authorities.
Mr Toufaili is about as likely to have Kalashnikovs in the ceiling of his house or semtex under the floorboards as I am. He has similar views about southern Lebanon as I do: the Israelis should not be there in defiance of United Nations resolutions since 1978. I believe that and Mr Toufaili believes that. That does not mean that either Mr Toufaili or I are about to go out and hire some rocket launchers and let loose at the Olympic Games.
It is extraordinary that security authorities are wasting their time and harassing people, in breach of the principles of multiculturalism and good sense, simply because someone has a southern Lebanon background. Mr Toufaili's view is simple: he thinks he is being persecuted because he is an Islamic Shi'ite not an Anglo-Saxon and because his family comes from southern Lebanon. There is no other rational explanation for what has happened. That man has been picked on by ASIO because he has an Arabic name.
In that context one has to wonder how it is that so much public money is wasted by agencies such as ASIO doing that sort of thing. As I have indicated, that is also a good explanation as to why we need legislation with the principles of multiculturalism set out in it. Mr Toufaili said to me and to other people that he has made Australia his home so why would he jeopardise that by doing anything along the lines obviously suspected by ASIO? He has made a very clear commitment to this country. He said to me, "Mate, I became an Australian citizen. I even took an oath to the Queen. What more do they want me to do?" It is insanity that security services can harass people for no reason other than that they have a non Anglo-Saxon background.
Mr GEORGE (Lismore) [9.22 p.m.]: Tonight I speak to the Community Relations Commission and Principles of Multiculturalism Bill. The diversity of the electorate that I represent is well and truly documented in this House. I am proud, as an ethnic of Lebanese extraction, to represent the electorate of Lismore. I heard the experiences of the honourable member for Bankstown, the honourable member for Albury and the Minister for Tourism relating during their schooldays and of experiences in their electorates. My parents immigrated to Australia from Lebanon in 1949. I am unique because when my mother left Lebanon she was pregnant with me and I was born in Australia.
Mrs Grusovin: Good timing!
Mr GEORGE: Yes, it was good timing. I do not know whether it was to save an air fare, but it worked out well. I can relate to a lot of stories expressed by honourable members from both sides of the House about going to school and being accused of being from another background. Yes, I was embarrassed in front of my school teachers when my parents came to school and could not speak English properly. I would hide when my parents came to school to find out how I was going. Nevertheless, I always felt some sense of pride in my upbringing—to this day I still appreciate it. Tonight the Minister for Tourism commented on how people would poke fun at her salami sandwiches. Today we can take heart because the Anglo-Saxons want our salami sandwiches, tabbouli, kibbe and other food.
I fail to understand how words will change the attitudes of people—it is their attitudes that have to change. The honourable member for Liverpool referred to a gentleman who had a problem with two gentlemen from ASIO. A change in attitude needs to be brought about in our community. That is the only thing that will solve the problem, and that will not occur by changing "ethnic" to "multiculturalism". However, if it will contribute to a change in attitude I will support it and, hopefully, down the track a further change may occur in another generation.
I am proud to be a part of this modern multiculturalism society. I am proud of the way that people have accepted me as their elected representative of the Lismore electorate. As the honourable member for Coffs Harbour said, the Lismore electorate has a vast number of people from different backgrounds. The small crop banana growers and fruit growers in our area are from the ethnic community, for want of a better description. I am proud to be an ethnic person. I am proud to represent everyone in the Lismore electorate. I am proud of what has been achieved by the ethnic communities in the Lismore electorate. I am proud that my parents gave me the opportunity to call Australia home.
Mr GREENE (Georges River) [9.26 p.m.]: I support the bill before the House. As I have listened to honourable members speak about their backgrounds I have been reminded of my background as a teacher. I have reflected on when I taught in many multicultural schools. I taught at St Therese at Mascot and Marist Brothers at Daceyville—the former is no longer in existence—both in the electorate of Heffron. I certainly enjoyed my time at those schools. When I was at Mascot the principal regularly commented on the fact that something like 67 different nationalities were represented in the school community. However, that was never a problem for the primary school-aged children, who all saw themselves as Australians. They did not see themselves as different—as ethnics—they saw themselves as children who were going to school and learning in a friendly and safe environment.
As a community that is what we should emphasise. The Government, through this legislation, is attempting to emphasise those important points. Australia is a nation comprising people from diverse and different cultural backgrounds. We are a nation that has come together successfully, an example of which was my teaching experience with those young children. The teachers in those schools worked with different cultural groups in an attempt to provide as much support as they could to encourage multiculturalism. I will never forget my earliest teaching days at downtown Marist Brothers, Penshurst, which is in the Georges River electorate. One teacher always held an international food day—it was one of the most popular days on the school calendar. His fifth class students would provide different foods from their cultural backgrounds.
Only last month Marist Brothers Penshurst held a multicultural evening. It is a wonderful celebration of that community. In the past four years, when my son attended the school, this has been a great opportunity for people to come together. In the Georges River community one of the features I will be looking to emphasise through the Community Relations Commission is the bringing of people together. The commission itself will have that as one of its aims. The bill provides for the commission to have a full-time commissioner and eight part-time commissioners but, most importantly, the new commission will be more responsive to the needs of migrant communities, with the commissioners and commissioners' staff maintaining ongoing contact with community organisations and government agencies.
I am impressed by the consultation that has gone into the preparation of this bill and the support it has received from various cultural groups. I particularly note the support of two gentlemen well-known to me in the local electorate, Henry Pan and Dr Tony Pun. Those two gentlemen have worked very hard and successfully within the Chinese community. In the recent Seniors Week I had the pleasure of attending a seniors function for the Chinese community. That was a magnificent celebration of this cultural group within the Australian society.
Another event that comes to mind as I reflect on the content of the bill was my attendance at the citizenship ceremonies. I am sure many of my colleagues in the House this evening would also reflect on the great joy they must get from attending citizenship ceremonies. We see people from diverse backgrounds who have come to Australia and want to be Australian citizens. Whenever I have the honour to speak at those ceremonies I highlight the enthusiasm, energy and vitality that is associated with those ceremonies. That is because those ceremonies are very much a celebration of people who want to be a part of Australia.
In New South Wales, with this piece of legislation, we are putting those sentiments into concrete legislation. That is very important. With the support of the various cultural groups that I have mentioned, I believe this bill will be very successful. Hopefully, the energy, enthusiasm, inspiration and great love of Australia exuded by the children at St Therese Mascot when I taught there in the early 1990s, and the great desire to work with each other, will also pervade the whole of New South Wales and Australian society. I am grateful for the opportunity to have spoken in support of this bill.
Mr WEBB (Monaro) [9.33 p.m.]: I am pleased to contribute to the debate on the Community Relations Commission and Principles of Multiculturalism Bill. I listened with interest to the honourable member for Georges River, the honourable member for Albury, the honourable member for Coffs Harbour, the honourable member for Lismore and Government members who have spoken in this debate. It has been touched on, but the word "ethnic" is fundamental to this debate. I am not sure that a name change can affect attitude or encourage people to co-operate and move on. The important word "citizenship" is mentioned on the first page of the bill. To quote the words of a famous song:
We are one, but we are many
From all the lands on earth we come.
It goes on to say:
I note that sentiment mentioned on the first page of the bill, in object (b) of the overview. My background is English, Irish and a little bit of Scottish. I am proud today to be wearing the Australian tartan. It is a wonderful icon of the world of tartans and kilts. It certainly well represents the Australian colours and the icons of Australia. My background goes back to the settlement of Queanbeyan in the early 1820s by grazing people of English and Irish descent. Today in Queanbeyan some 35 ethnic groups are represented in the schools—not 130 or 140 ethnic groups, as there are in western Sydney, but nonetheless a significant number.
In Cooma today I think 56 flags fly to represent the commitment by people from all over the world to build the snowy scheme, which began 50 years ago. It is interesting that a multicultural experiment was tried at the beginning of the construction on that project. It involved the segregating of the various ethnic groups—the Yugoslavs, Italians, Germans, Scandinavians and so on. But after a short month or two it was found that that did not work and it was decided to mix the various ethnic groups in the dormitory accommodation in the high country, and another chapter in Australia's wonderful multicultural and ethnic history was written.
The Monaro electorate includes Eden and its fishing industry, which is largely based on Italian and middle European groups that have come to the area to make their living. It is interesting also that Monaro is an electorate with a high proportion—indeed, one of the highest in the State—of Australian citizens. These people, though, have come from all over the world. They have embraced Australia as their home. They have taken to our ways, our language and our citizenship, thereby adding to the very colour of the fabric of Australia and New South Wales, but particularly Monaro today. It would be easy to talk generally about things and hope that the multicultural experiment brings ethnic groups together, so that they go on to contribute to Australia's future.
I have in the Australian Capital Territory a great friend named Nic Manikis, a representative of the Federal Ethnic Affairs Commission. I have also met Stepan Kerkyasharian, the New South Wales Commissioner for Ethnic Affairs. These people are trying very hard to bridge the gaps, to bring the various ethnic groups together, to understand the cultural experiment in which Australia really leads the world. I am not sure that this bill, by changing a few names and setting some policy initiatives, will encourage the co-operation and cohesion that are vital if our Australian communities are to live together and form the bonds and friendships that are part of a national community's strength. I welcome the effort contained within the bill to attempt to go down that pathway. But it will not happen with a few words that are written or spoken; it can only happen through positive leadership, positive initiatives and positive encouragement of people not only to continue their culture and ethnic ways but to join together to become citizens of Australia, to attempt to take on board what is Australian, and thereby move ahead.
Growth projections in Australia and the immigration debate are two important matters. Australia is well placed to continue the multicultural experiment, to continue to take on board ethnic groups and to continue with family reunions. It is vitally important to encourage people to become Australian citizens and to adopt our language. We must look to other groups to determine how to achieve a cohesive and co-operative society. I do not know how far down this path we have gone, but I am sure we will achieve a cohesive society with the help of all governments and the community. Some time down the track we will have one society and one language. We will remember these cultural experiments and the areas from which all our migrants have come. I thank the House for an opportunity to contribute to debate on this bill.
Mr BARTLETT (Port Stephens) [9.41 p.m.]: It gives me a great deal of pleasure to speak tonight in debate on the Community Relations Commission and Principles of Multiculturalism Bill. As a migrant to these shores I should refer to some of my travels before arriving in Australia. I will refer also to some of the incidents that occurred in that time. I was born in London, England. When I was about six I moved to Wellington and Upper Hutt in New Zealand and I became involved in Maori culture and participated in their games and songs. When I was about 10 I went back to Cardiff in south Wales. An English speaking boy aged 10 who had been to New Zealand and who had been involved in Maori culture then had to sit for an examination called the eleven-plus—an examination on Welsh language, history and geography. I managed to fail the lot.
As I did not pass the examination I was doomed to go to one of those non-academic schools to which one goes when one fails the eleven-plus. I left England in about 1961 and went to the Torrens migrant camp in South Australia. I lived in Elizabeth in South Australia for some time and I then moved to Port Stephens in 1962. At that stage I was about 13. I was in year six having missed out on several years of education because I had travelled around the world and had lived in migrant camps. So I knew what it was like to migrate to an English speaking country. I had been through that whole experience by the time I was about 13.
At Fly Point in Port Stephens is a place called HMAS Assault. During the war it was the amphibious landing training area and shortly after the war it was converted to a migrant camp to which many young couples from Europe would go when they first arrived in Australia. As those migrants were not able to speak English they often could not obtain a job. Language classes were held for those migrants who then went to work in the fishing industry, BHP or were employed on two-year contracts on the Snowy Mountains scheme. Last year was the fiftieth anniversary of the reunion of migrants who worked at that HMAS Assault base. Those people are now Australians. They have Australian children and grandchildren and are very much part of the Australian culture. The Community Relations Commission and Principles of Multiculturalism Bill is:
A bill for an Act to establish principles of multiculturalism as the policy of the State; to constitute the Community Relations Commission of New South Wales; to provide for its objectives and functions; to repeal the Ethnic Affairs Commission Act 1979 and to amend certain other Acts and regulations; and for other purposes.
Tonight I looked up the first two meanings of the words "ethnic" and "relation" in the Macquarie Dictionary. The first meaning of the word "ethnic" is as follows:
relating to or peculiar to a population, especially to a speech group, loosely also to a race.
The second meaning—and there are many—is as follows:
relating to the origin, classification, characteristics, etc., of such groups.
The first two meanings of the word "relation" are as follows:
1. an existing connection; a particular way of being related;
2. the various connections between peoples.
Basically we are focusing on name changes; we are not focusing on what makes people different but the extent they are related. This bill, which will prevent the use of certain words, does not highlight the differences between people. I am not saying that the Ethnic Affairs Commission did not do a good job over the past 20 years or anything like that; I am now focusing on those things that bring people together. It would be a worthwhile exercise if all honourable members focused on those objectives. I will deal briefly with some of the key points of the legislation from a country perspective. The preamble of the legislation, for the first time, recognises the cultural diversity of the people of New South Wales as a strength and an asset for our community. It clearly states the Government's commitment to a multicultural and inclusive society.
It will enable local communities to resolve local issues. The Community Relations Commission will have new powers to undertake systematic and wide-ranging consultation with people and groups in respect to its objectives. That will enable the commission to be more proactive in identifying and responding to community needs. The commission will also be able to establish task forces to identify certain problems in the community so that experts can work with the local community to resolve those problems. The bill will enable the commission to act as a catalyst, bringing people from the community and government together.
The bill will establish a Community Relations Commission and enshrine in law the principles of multiculturalism. The term "ethnic" will be dropped. As I said earlier, if we refer to the dictionary definition of the words "ethnic" and "relations" we see that we are no longer looking at the differences between people; we are looking only at those things that hold them together. The bill will provide for a full-time chair of the commission and eight part-time commissioners. Regional bodies will be established and the part-time commissioners will be eligible for election as the chair. The Commonwealth and most State governments have dropped the word "ethnic" from the name of the agency with responsibility for cultural diversity issues. Clause 3 (1) on page 2 of the bill should be amended to read:
Parliament recognises that the people of New South Wales are of different linguistic, religious, racial and ethnic backgrounds, who either individually or in community with other members of their respective groups, are free to profess, practice and maintain their own linguistic, religious, racial and ethnic heritage. It does so by supporting and promoting certain principles.
As Mayor of Port Stephens for four years it was my privilege to attend and officiate at citizenship ceremonies. In those four years I think I made over 200 new citizens members of the Australian family. A survey conducted two years ago in Port Stephens found that people who had been born overseas believed that they had been well received in Port Stephens. They did not feel isolated because of their treatment by the Government or the Port Stephens community. When I first became the member for Port Stephens my area of responsibility expanded to take in Mayfield in Newcastle. I was approached by the Hippocrates Society, which was under the chairmanship of Mr Peter Skavlos, to become its patron.
Members of the society did not know me except by reputation, yet they wanted me to be their patron. They purchased a site from BHP for some $300,000 for a retirement-nursing home for all residents of Newcastle. This is a Greek club, a Greek community association, which has set out as one of its ideals, having invested in the local area, to build a retirement home-nursing home for all residents of Newcastle. At present the association is looking at its plans for the facility as well as conducting fundraising activities through various functions. I am using this one association as an example of what is going on in the Hunter at the present time—if you like, what is going on in Port Stephens at the present time. I have had the pleasure of attending a number of these fundraising functions. I have attended the annual barbecue at Little Beach at Port Stephens, a stone's throw away from the HMAS Assault base, which was the original migrant centre.
The Hippocrates Society's Greek folk party at its Mayfield club had guests from all over the Sydney region and about nine busloads of Greek folk came from the Sydney area. I recently attended the annual Greek ball at the Waratah-Mayfield Ex Servicemen's Club. All of those events, besides keeping the Greek community together and inviting non-Greek citizens, were designed to raise funds for the nursing home and the retirement village planned for the site. Each occasion was a most enjoyable time for a most deserving cause. This society enshrines the principle of multiculturalism which the new Community Relations Commission is designed to facilitate. It is not working for the Greek community; it is working for the whole of the community. If there is a message I could leave with the Chamber it is that multiculturalism is out there, and it is working. I am very happy to commend the bill to the House.
Ms BEAMER (Mulgoa) [9.52 p.m.]: I wish to comment briefly on the Community Relations Commission and Principles of Multiculturalism Bill and to make a few personal observations as a migrant to this country. I remember arriving in Australia from the Northern Hemisphere, which was extremely cold at the time, to a very hot January. I arrived from England and, for that reason, I have been afforded a unique experience as a migrant to the country. First, I was given the hospitality of two years at Cabramatta migrant hostel, which was a wonderful place for a young person to grow up as it was absolutely teeming with young people. One could always find a soccer team, someone to throw a ball with, someone living next door. It was not hospitable to my mother, living in two rooms in half a corrugated iron hut, but she got over it.
One of the observations I really want to make is that I am never asked where I was born. It is assumed that I am Australian. That is because I look as Anglo as the person next to me. I have talked about this with a number of honourable members of the House who were born in Australia but who as juveniles were called ethnics or various other terms. The honourable member for Bankstown and the Minister for Small Business, and Minister for Tourism, both of whom were born in Australia, identified strongly with being called "of ethnic background". The honourable member for Fairfield, who was born in Australia, is asked all the time where he was born. I, not born in this country, have never been asked that question.
I was lucky enough to attend a citizenship ceremony in 1983, when I was made an Australian citizen. I remember the pride of doing that. I remember greater pride in 1989 when, as Mayor of Penrith, I presided over citizenship ceremonies and was able to enjoy inviting other people to be part of this culture. It was exceptionally important when I became an Australian in 1983, and it was even more wonderful when I was able to invite members of other communities to become citizens of Australia. The term "multiculturalism" applies to our society whether or not this bill is passed. It is how we view ourselves. It is part of being Australian. It is part of looking around anywhere one goes, in any schoolyard, down any street, in any supermarket, at any sporting event, whether that sporting event be rugby league, rugby union, soccer or netball. In my electorate—which is not predominantly an Anglo-Saxon or Celtic environment—or elsewhere, one can find Australia’s multicultural background.
The bill talks about community relations between those various cultures and a need to understand the complexities in our religious base, in our linguistic base and, indeed, in the way we live together in a cohesive and harmonious environment. It is important to reflect upon the fact that for 200 years Australians years have been migrants. We should also remember that those who were here already were not migrants and they are talking to us now about their place in Australian society. The Community Relations Commission, which talks about the principles of multiculturalism, can relate far better to indigenous Australians. We should continually reflect upon our evolving and mature society.
Recently I watched our Prime Minister in Turkey talking to the Prime Minister of Turkey about the events at Gallipoli. It struck me with a great deal of pride that this country can talk about a national day, Anzac Day, and can hold a service on a beach that we tried to invade. We can do that not only with the blessing of the country but with the gift of poetry written about that event by the Prime Minister of Turkey. We can do that because we see ourselves as people of the whole globe. Australians represent many parts of the world. We have learnt to live together and we continually ask those communities who move to Australia to live together in a similar way. Australians can hold their heads up with a great deal of pride as we have managed to come together as a multicultural community.
Mr MAGUIRE (Wagga Wagga) [9.58 p.m.]: I have been following this debate from my room and I felt moved to speak on this bill. The debate has been quite informative. It has been interesting to listen to the experiences members from both sides of the House have had with their ethnicity and their origins. I point out first that the objects of this bill are:
(a) to recognise that the people of New South Wales are of different religious, racial and ethnic backgrounds, and
(b) to promote the equal rights and responsibilities of all the people of New South Wales within a cohesive and harmonious multicultural society in which diversity is regarded as a strength and an asset, individuals share a commitment to Australia, and English is the common language.
The Opposition will not divide the House on this bill, but I foreshadow that it will move amendments in another place.
I shall put on the record, as have most other honourable members, the background and some of the multicultural issues that I feel are important and have made Australia great. I shall reflect for a moment on my electorate and my adopted home town of Griffith. Griffith is represented by the honourable member for Murrumbidgee, but I lived there for 13 years. I got my first job in Griffith, and it is where I learnt to speak Italian, although very badly. Speaking Italian was a great asset to me in Griffith, which has a very proud history. Griffith has a population of 15,000 or 16,000, the great percentage of which have an ethnic background. Of course, that background is Italian.
My father-in-law, Silvio Salvestro, came to Australia when he was seven years old. His brothers had come here years before him. They worked hard, saved their money to purchase farms, and then worked together to bring the family to Australia. My father-in-law is very proud of his Italian heritage. If anyone called him a wog he would say in no uncertain terms that he is Australian. My wife is of Italian background and has the same attitude. The Italian people of Griffith have a proud history; I have learnt a great deal about that history and I have learnt to respect it. My great grandfather was Sunda Singh. Honourable members may have guessed from my suntan that Sunda Singh was in fact from India.
Mr R. H. L. Smith: And salesmanship.
Mr MAGUIRE: The honourable member for Bega has accurately pointed out salesmanship. Honourable members would know from my inaugural speech that that is my background. Sunda Singh came to Australia in the late 1800s with a rucksack on his back, because he was a hawker. He worked in the areas around Swan Hill, and he was a successful hawker. He graduated to a horse and cart and then a wagonette, as did most of the Indian hawkers. After years of hard work he bought a dairy farm in Swan Hill, and he married an English woman. He was one of the first people to purchase a motor vehicle. Before my grandmother passed away she told me about Sunda Singh buying a motor vehicle. She said he came to Australia with absolutely nothing, as had many hundreds of thousands of other Australians, and created a life.
My grandmother told me about when Sunda Singh bought the motor vehicle with the nickel-plated engine—buying a motor vehicle was a feat in those days—and took it home. He had not had great experience with motor vehicles. As he was parking the motor vehicle in the shed he said, "Whoa, boy"; he did not know that the vehicle had brakes, and it proceeded to go through the back wall of the shed. Sunda Singh died at the reasonably young age of the 63. When he came here he embraced Australian traditions and he was very successful. As the honourable member for Bega said, Sunda Singh was a salesman, as was I. Australia has offered great opportunities to many people who have migrated to our lands and who have embraced the Australian way.
Paragraph (b) of the bill's overview refers to the importance of people who migrate to Australia, what we as a community offer them, how we accept them into our community and how we want them to retain their heritage and history while at the same time urging them to embrace the Australian way of life. The important wording is that the people who come to Australia share a commitment to Australia and English is the common language. My electorate of Wagga Wagga has been multicultural for many years. Members opposite may not be aware that Charles Sturt University is in my electorate. . Students from throughout the world attend that university. A diverse make-up of people come to the Wagga Wagga electorate.
When I walk or drive down the streets of Wagga Wagga it is fantastic to see the different nationalities of people who come to live in our city and study at the university. The university also exports languages and scholastic skills in different fields. As the honourable member for Wagga Wagga I take great pride in that, and the people of Wagga Wagga welcome those visitors. We have a great relationship with our sister cities in other parts of the world. I have great interest in the city of Kunming, which has been a sister city of Wagga Wagga for some 13 years. It has encouraged me to learn Mandarin. Although my Italian is very bad, my Mandarin is worse. However, it says something about the diversity of Wagga Wagga and the approach of Australians towards multiculturalism.
The word "ethnic" is perhaps considered by some as being inappropriate these days, hence the new titles. Broadly, I agree. When I was the president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry a young lady was working as my secretary. During a discussion one day—she had been working for me for about two years—she was quite upset about something that had gone wrong during the day and she said, "It's because I'm an ethnic that this has happened to me". I said to her, "Are you really? I hadn't noticed." She was a Filipino but I had not noticed and, frankly, I did not care. She was simply a person I worked with. I did not give a damn about the colour of her skin, the shape of her eyes or how she pronounced her words. To me she was a great person and a terrific staff member. I was quite shocked to learn that a person who had worked for me for more than two years regarded herself as being of ethnic background.
The thrust of this bill is that those barriers should be broken down. People from all walks of life need to be recognised as people, not as being from one country or another. People need to be recognised as Australians but, most importantly, as human beings. The colour of one's skin, the shape of one's eyes or whatever is insignificant. I appreciate having this opportunity to place on record my short history, my background and the multicultural make-up of my electorate. I support the broad principles of this bill.
Mr McBRIDE (The Entrance) [10.09 p.m.]: A number of honourable members have referred to the multicultural nature of our society and our Parliament as it exists today. In some ways I believe that this legislation is retrospective. The situation that exists today and that we are recognising formally through this legislation has existed for more than 20 years. We are legislating for a situation that has already occurred in our society. The reason that the legislation is so important is that it has been neglected for 20 years. For 20 years we have not formalised the situation that exists in our society. A further reason that this legislation is so important is that, for the first time, a State Government in Australia is introducing it.
Members have spoken about multiculturalism within their families. My family situation also reflects multiculturalism. I should like to refer firstly to the situation in my electorate. The Central Coast could almost be described as a monoculture, in the sense that most of the people on the Central Coast are of either Anglo-Saxon or Celtic origin. However, more and more people of other cultures are now coming to the Central Coast. Those who have lived on the Central Coast for some time now see an enormous change occurring in society. They come to my office and make comments such as, "We are concerned about the multicultural change that is occurring in our society." I say to them, "It has already happened. You are 20 years too late. Go to Sydney on the weekend and walk through any suburb in Sydney and see the difference in our society."
I cite the Central Coast as an example. I lived in Marrickville for a number of years, I lived in the Fairfield municipality for a decade, and I lived in the Bankstown area. Yet the first black African I saw was on the Central Coast. There is a representation from Somalia on the Central Coast. The Somalis are very tall, very thin and quite colourful in their dress. The Central Coast is the best place to see them, because they stand out. People ask, "What is happening here?" I tell them, "It is not what is happening here. It has already happened here."
If one were to go to the inner western suburbs of Sydney one would see an enormous range of people from different cultures already living there, some for generations. The Minister for Public Works and Services, and Minister Assisting the Premier on Citizenship is a second-generation Australian. His parents came from Italy, and he is a great Australian. If one were to drive through Leichhardt, for example, on a Sunday night one would think one was in another country, because there are swarms of people moving around the sidewalk cafes and restaurants.
Mr Maguire: The food is a problem for me.
Mr McBRIDE: The food is always a problem for me, as I am sure it is for all members of Parliament; most of us do not need an extra meal. Twenty-five or 30 years ago the old buildings in King Street, Newtown were filled with old, second-hand wares. I am not referring to antiques but to old stoves and old refrigerators. The buildings were decrepit and totally wound down. Nowadays, King Street, Newtown, has a thriving, cosmopolitan atmosphere—any day of the week, night or day. One has a choice of any type of restaurant food from any country in the world in that precinct.
I regularly visit Cabramatta because I lived there for more than a decade. The diversity in Cabramatta is unbelievable. People talk about the Vietnamese community that lives in Cabramatta today. However, they do not recognise that the Liverpool-Fairfield area has had wave after successive wave of immigrant populations going through there. After the war many people from Anglo-Saxon cultures came through. During the period I lived in Cabramatta the Polish intellectuals, or the intelligentsia, came through, as a result of the changes that occurred in Poland. Also established in the area were the Italian community and what was then called the Yugoslavian community. They were made up of several different groups. For example, within the Italian community in Fairfield about three or four different community clubs represented different regions in Italy. Other clubs represented all the various groups within the Yugoslavian community. That was already there 15 years ago, and it all occurred before Indo-Chinese people started to come to Australia. The characteristic of all those people was that they came to our country because of problems in their own countries or because they were displaced after the war. All of these things have already occurred in our society.
My father, who was Irish, did not come to Australia until he was in his late twenties. He did not immigrate to Australia but came here through his employment. He met an Australian girl, a Skippy, he ended up marrying her, and he ended up staying in Australia. My son recently married a girl from Wyoming, on the Central Coast. I lived in Marrickville and I lived in Cabramatta. My son married the most ethnically diverse person I have ever met. Both her parents came to Australia in their mid twenties. My daughter-in-law's mother came from Peru, and she is Peruvian-Indian. Her father came from Germany, and he is German. My daughter-in-law is half Peruvian-Indian and half German. My son is one-quarter Irish and three-quarters something else, from many other nationalities. My grandson is therefore Peruvian-Indian, German, Irish, and many other nationalities.
Mr R. H. L. Smith: We should get him in here to speak.
Mr McBRIDE: He is a little young to speak at the moment; I think he is limited to a grunt or a cry, or something of that nature. On the other side of my family, my wife's brother-in-law is Roman; he was born in Rome. The Romans are citizens of the world. They are not Italians, as I learnt. My brother is married to a Japanese-born Japanese. My cousin was married to a German. My cousin's daughter is married to a Lebanese. My wife's cousin is married to a Greek who was born in Greece. I live in an area that is basically Anglo-Saxon-Celtic.
Mr Maguire: Isn't it wonderful!
Mr McBRIDE: The honourable member is right: it is wonderful. Through this legislation we are formalising and celebrating what has already occurred. As we all know, the history of Australia is that it is an immigrant country. What we are now seeing is a change, and that change is a progressive change. What is remarkable about Australia is that despite the presence of different groups of people from all over the world, this country has one of the strongest democracies, one of the safest communities and the highest level of freedom of any country in the world. It does not matter where people come from, and the representation in this Parliament is a good example of that. There would not be another country in the world where a person could be the child of an immigrant and become a member of Parliament. I cite a former Premier of this State, Nick Greiner, as an example. His parents were displaced persons after the war in Hungary.
Mr R. H. L. Smith: He was born in Hungary.
Mr McBRIDE: As the honourable member for Bega says, Nick Greiner was born in Hungary. Yet in one generation he became the Premier of New South Wales. That could not happened in any other country in the world, and that is what is so great about Australia. I believe that people should not to be concerned about the changes presented by this legislation because multiculturalism has been part of the fabric of our nation during the past couple of hundred years. The bill actually formalises what has already occurred and, in that sense, it is basically retrospective. But what is important is that the bill refers to principles which acknowledge multiculturalism.
One of the objects of the bill is to recognise that the people of New South Wales are of different linguistic, religious, rational and ethnic backgrounds. An important function of this bill is to state publicly what all members of this Parliament believe should be stated. This bill says, in effect, that multiculturalism characterises modern Australia and is the way forward in the future for Australia. Principle 1 of the bill states:
All individuals in New South Wales should have the greatest possible opportunity to contribute to, and participate in, all aspects of public life.
In other words, people should not be hindered in their progress because of their differences. That is an important principle as it relates to the future of this State. Principle 2 states:
All individuals and public institutions should respect and make provision for the culture, language and religion of others ...
That is also very important because, as all honourable members know, matters related to racial diversity can be ignored in institutions that seek to minimise administrative difficulties. Principle 3 states:
All individuals should have the greatest opportunity to make use of and participate in relevant activities and programs provided or administered by the Government of New South Wales.
That principle correctly states what should happen. It is important for the bill to state these principles. Principal 4 states:
All public institutions of New South Wales should recognise the linguistic and cultural assets in the population of New South Wales as a valuable resource and promote this resource to maximise the development of the State.
Examples of linguistic and cultural assets being recognised as valuable resources is the location by multinational companies of their enterprises in Australia. One of this country's great assets is the diversity of its population wherein no one language is not spoken authoritatively by young people. For example, my daughter-in-law speaks Spanish, German, English and Indonesian, which is not remarkable in modern Australia among young people. Another example is the Minister for Public Works and Services, and Minister Assisting the Premier on Citizenship, who speaks English and very fluent Italian. I understand that he now speaks with a north Italian accent, which is very important. Many Australians have the ability to speak and read languages other than English, which is a huge asset for the Australian community. To express the advantage in crude terms, let me describe it as a true economic advantage.
Australia has educated young people who can speak two or perhaps three languages. One has only to consider situations that may arise during the Olympics. Instead of international representatives struggling with interpreters, I am confident that volunteer Olympic staff will be found who can speak competently with representatives from other countries. That type of ability reflects the greatness of this State and its wonderful future. As I said at the outset, I totally support this important legislation because it provides public recognition by the State of the importance of multiculturalism in our society.
Mr R. H. L. SMITH (Bega) [10.24 p.m.]: I had not intended to speak in this debate, but, having heard what the honourable member for The Entrance has had to say, I am infused with enthusiasm to participate in this debate. I have an Anglo-Saxon background and my wife is very proud of her Irish heritage. Her mother's maiden name is Sheila Margaret Horrigan and her mother is Irish. I endorse the sentiments expressed by the honourable member for The Entrance, who said that, because multiculturalism has already occurred, this legislation is two decades too late. The last telephone call I received before I travelled to attend this sitting of Parliament was from a friend of mine, Dom Fondacaro. Prior to this debate, I regarded Dom Fondacaro predominantly as a personal friend, but I also now realise that he is a member of the Italian community in Ulladulla. His background links him with Argentina, and he telephoned to tell me that his relatives would be visiting this State. I cannot recite the exact origin of Dom Fondacaro's background, as the honourable member for The Entrance recited his, but I think he moved to my electorate from Griffith.
Mr Maguire: No, he came from Leeton.
Mr R. H. L. SMITH: He moved from Leeton to Ulladulla. His relatives intend to visit Australia and they probably will not be able to speak English. He wants to do the right thing by them because when he was overseas, they did the right thing by him. My Australian friend, Dom Fondacaro, sought assistance from me. I asked him what he wanted to do to make his relatives' trip special and he said that the major event in New South Wales this year is the Olympic Games. I told him that that if Parliament is sitting when his relatives are in New South Wales, I would love them to join me for lunch or dinner. He said that he would like them to experience every major feature and he would like to take them on a tour of the site for the Olympic Games. I told him that I did not know whether trips still operate throughout the Olympic Village and that I did not have any details. I told him that I was on my way to Parliament and that I would consult the Minister for the Olympics, Michael Knight, and the shadow Minister for the Olympics, Chris Hartcher, to ensure that his relations are provided with the best that can be obtained for them. It never occurred to me previously that the person who was talking to me was a person with a multicultural background.
[Debate interrupted.]