Modul 12 

Australian Multiculturalism

I.  Six Key Factors in the Emergencies of Multiculturalism in Australia Undeniable reality Australia =

multicultural society   The Xenophobia was waning   The immigrant communities were

becoming confident and articulate

Expansion of migrants and ethnic community groups cultural political issues

Labor Party Immigration Policy in 1972 to 1975 (Minister AI

Grassby) Social reform

II. Immigration Policy : A Historical Perspective

Before 1901 Racial exclusion  Predominantly British 1850’s : gold rush, non - British

migrants increasing (China, German, Poland, America, Scandinavia, Hungarian)

White Australia Policy (1901) Before World - War II

  Racial exclusion (official)  1901 – 1940 : predominantly

assisted British migrants and Southern Europeans (Italian and Greek)

1945 : ALP / Arthur Callwell as first immigration

minister, planned immigration

Post – World - War II Populate or Perish    Non - British :10 British    Two – year – indenture labor,

unskilled labor (non - British), assisted (British)

    Displaced - persons (Baltic)  Heterogeneity, not

homogeneity    Diversity by default, not by

design

III. Multiculturalism and Multicultural Policy

  Multicultural policy : public / government policyMulticulturalism : (everyday)

multicultural policy

The question : Which countries implement this ?  When adopted by Australia ?  For whom ?By whom ?  Why ?

IV.  Multiculturalism as Theory and Practice     Al Grassby (1973) : ‘A multicultural

society for the future family of the nation’ : contribution of migrants     Zubrzycki (1977) : cultural

pluralism   Jean Martin : structural pluralism

(emphasis on access to economic and political structures)

Galbally (1977) : multiculturalism as practice

Blainey (1984) : multiculturalism as divisive

Jupp (1986) : reaffirm multiculturalism as public policy,

proposed for structural pluralism

V.  Multiculturalism : Pros and Cons   Pros

Capitalists  Major political parties  Labor shortages  Defense / securities Growing market   Capital    Benefits, etc

Cons, right – wing : Blainey (1984), Knopflemacher Costly and divisive (publicly -

funded, minorities interests, disanglified)

     Cons, left - wing : Jakubowicz, Lepervanche  Multiculturalism as strategy

for containment   Effective means for social –

control - initiated by the state

VI.   Multicultural Policy and Immigration Policy Multicultural policy

Introduced in 1973 after the failure of

Assimilation and integration  Assimilation  Integration

Assimilation (postwar - mid 60s)  Non - policy, mono -

culturalism, Anglo-conformity    Migrants discard cultural

baggage, assimilate    Treating migrants as other

Australians

‘New Australians’  Gap between rhetoric and

reality   Problems of settlement

NESB   Mid 60s special assistance

for migrants

Integration (mid 60s - early 70s)  Transitional   Assimilation section

integration section (1964)    Ad hoc response, not

systematic policy to migrant - communities demand

Multicultural Policy (1972 – present)

   Guiding principle for migrant settlement

Celebration of migrant cultural ‘trappings’

  Diversity not homogeneity   Cultural pluralism not

monoculturalism  Salad bowl, not melting - pot

VII. Three Dimensions for Multiculturalism in Australia  Cultural identity

The right of all Australian within carefully defined limits, to

express and share their individual cultural heritage, including language and religion

Social justiceThe right of all Australian to equality of treatment and opportunity and the removal of

barrier of race, ethnicity culture, religion, language, gender and place of birth

  Economic efficiencyThe need to maintain, develop and utilize effectively the skills and

talents of all Australian

VIII. Multicultural Institutions AIMA (Australian Institute of

Multicultural Affairs), 1979   OMA (Office of Multicultural

Affairs), 1987   ACMA (Advisory Council for

Multicultural Affairs), 1989

   NMAC (National Multicultural Advisory Council), 1994 DIMA (Department of Immigration

and Multicultural Affairs), 1996

NMAC (new) (National Multicultural Advisory Council), 1997