Two unlikely allies are fighting to have the concept of multiculturalism accepted once again in Australia.
Recent events at home and abroad are testing the harmony of Australia’s multicultural society.
Over the weekend violence erupted at protests across Australia as anti-Islam and anti-racism groups clashed at rival rallies.
Around the country, a group calling themselves Reclaim Australia held rallies to oppose what they see as threats posed by Islam, sharia law and halal certification.
More than 3,000 people clashed in Melbourne, resulting in Victoria Police arresting two men and a woman.
Labor’s Maria Vamvakinou was born on the small Greek island of Lefkada, while Liberal member Russell Broadbent was born in Koo Wee Rup in Victoria.
Together they launched federal parliament’s ‘Friends of Multiculturalism’ committee in 2007, at a time when heat over the refugee debate was undermining Australia’s support for multiculturalism.
Maria Vamvakinou says she believes it is important to fight for multiculturalism.
She says it’s important the effort is bipartisan and that history is not allowed to repeat itself.
“It really was established to bring back the concept of multiculturalism to Canberra, to put it back on the political agenda, because we were emerging from a decade-long period where multiculturalism had become a very contentious and negative concept. The media, in particular, and public attitude seemed to blame issues, especially the arrival of refugees, ‘boat people’ as they came to be called, and any sort of community disturbances were blamed on multiculturalism.”
Over the years the committee has advocated, promoted and encouraged other members of parliament to join them, and success has followed.
Mr Broadbent says now there is a situation where multiculturalism in Parliament House is no longer a negative word and is being promoted by MPs across the nation.
“We now have multiculturalism in this building, and it’s not a bad word. It is a good word once again. And it proves that the past has been good. We have had a multicultural society that has worked well together and it’s a together word. It’s not about divisiveness, it’s about drawing people together and having an understanding of that. A multicultural Australia that is seen by others as a success story.”
Former Immigration Minister Scott Morrison paid tribute to the advocacy of Ms Vamvakinou and Mr Broadbent.
“I want to commend them for the work that they do in this parliament on building the understanding and support for many issues I know are so important.”