The removal of ‘multicultural affairs’ as a core ministerial portfolio by new Prime Minister Tony Abbott took the ethnic communities and opposition parties by surprise.
In the new government, ‘multicultural affairs and settlement services’ will come under the auspices of the Department of Social Services and shall be the responsibility of the parliamentary secretary for Social Services, NSW Senator Concetta Fierravanti Wells.
The national body of the state-based Ethnic Community Councils, the Federation of the Ethnic Communities Council of Australia (FECCA), have requested the new government to reinstate multicultural affairs to a full ministerial portfolio. FECCA also requested that the new Abbott government demonstrate its commitment to multiculturalism by going one step further and adopt a Multicultural Act that would secure the rights of culturally and linguistically diverse Australians.
Concerns about the downgrading of the multicultural affairs portfolio was also expressed by the Greek Community of Melbourne and Victoria (GOCMV).
Costas Markos, Secretary of GOCMV speaking to Neos Kosmos said: “Multiculturalism has served Australia well. No one can deny that we are a multicultural country. This recognition, though, needs to be expressed in the form of a portfolio and a Minister of Multicultural Affairs with Cabinet status.”
It is the first time since 1987, when the Bob Hawke Labor government implemented a two-level ministerial structure, with distinctions drawn between senior and junior ministers, that multicultural affairs will not be part of the 19 member Cabinet or of the 11 member outer ministry.
Labor MP Maria Vamvakinou – chair of the parliamentary Joint Standing Committee on Migration and its enquiry into multiculturalism – told Neos Kosmos:
“There’s no mention of multiculturalism in any of the portfolios. It has been obliterated.
“How a government addresses multiculturalism is about policy – not only integrating new migrants and encouraging diversity, but it’s also about dealing with issues like the aging of traditional migrant communities.
“My worry is that there is no infrastructure and no delineated responsibility.
“The reality is multicultural Australia exists and it has issues that need to be dealt with.
“I hope this government doesn’t by stealth try to return to the Howard years where there was a vocal and upfront attempt to get rid of ‘multiculturalism’ as a term.
“This is a big policy area, it’s not a minor one.”
The Australian Greens spokesman on multicultural affairs, Victorian Senator Richard Di Natale expressed to Neos Kosmos his grave concern about the future legislative stand of the government on issues of anti-racism and racial vilification and went on to say: “By not including multiculturalism as a key Cabinet portfolio Mr Abbott is making a very clear statement that he does not support multiculturalism as a key policy direction for Australia’s future”.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott, speaking during his election campaign in Western Sydney in August declared himself a “sworn enemy” of those who sought to divide Australia over issues of race, faith, class, gender and birth place but at the
same time he said that multicultural Australia was a “beacon of hope to a troubled and divided world” and we had much to be proud of.
Neos Kosmos did approach the government for a response but by the time the newspaper went to print no answer was forthcoming.