Racial Discrimination Act, CALD Youth Census Report
E&OE
Emma Griffiths:
So Senator, what do you think of the Prime Minister’s leadership call to take these changes off the table?
Senator Fierravanti-Wells:
Can I congratulate the Prime Minister for his leadership on this. He’s read the public mood and like me he has seen the unity in our diversity and strength in our differences is so very important. I see this everyday given my responsibilities of multicultural affairs and settlement services, not just in my current role but over the thirty years that I have been involved in multicultural affairs. I think it’s been a very important decision by the Prime Minister. Everyone wants to be part of Team Australia. I think it’s been a good decision.
Emma Griffiths:
Do you agree with him that the changes were complicating the relationship, in particular with the Muslim community?
Senator Fierravanti-Wells:
I think everyone wants to be part of Team Australia. I believe that this has been a sensitive issue and should have been handled respectfully. Instead, can I say the ALP has gone out on an all-out assault on this issue. The blatant politicisation by both federal and state Labor members of parliament has really done no service to promoting harmony in our society. Time and time again I saw them use inflammatory language designed to exacerbate division rather than advocating a more tolerant approach, which this issue required.
Emma Griffiths:
What sort of conversations do you imagine you’ll now be having with some of these very key ethnic community groups that were concerned about it?
Senator Fierravanti-Wells:
Well, there certainly have been concerns and concerns have been raised with me. But the reality is that communities raise their concerns. Can I say I welcome the Attorney’s approach in going out to publicly consult and that consultation process produced a lot of submissions. The reality is that we are a very culturally diverse country. We are a country of migrants. About a third of us since 1945 are migrants to Australia; almost 45% of us were born overseas or have at least one parent born overseas; we speak around almost 300 different languages, including indigenous languages; so therefore this is the cultural diversity which is contemporary mainstream Australian society. And therefore, I believe that the Prime Minister’s decision today – he has called it for Australia and I think it is a very good call. It will be welcomed by many people in the community.
Emma Griffiths:
Would you be hoping then that these changes never come back on to the table?
Senator Fierravanti-Wells:
Well, clearly at this point in time there is no appetite. I believe that the current legislation as it is has achieved that adequate balance between protecting freedom of speech and protecting people against racial vilification. But let’s not forget that we do live in a very tolerant society and I do believe that assertions that Australia is a racist country are totally unfounded. Can I categorically state that Australia does not tolerate racism.
Emma Griffiths:
Okay. Senator I think that’s fabulous. Is there anything else you wanted to add?
Senator Fierravanti-Wells:
Just one other thing Emma. Today, interestingly, I launched a report which shows that 25%, and that’s 925,000 young people aged 12-24 yr olds in Australia, are from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. So our cultural diversity is not just one where we’ve looked to the past, but it is now also our future. In the context of the launch of this report I think it’s very, very important, our social cohesion has been strong because of our commitment to Australia, its values and its laws, not just in the past but in the future.
Emma Griffiths:
That’s great. Thank you Senator.
Senator Fierravanti-Wells:
Thank you Emma.