PM Transcripts

PRIME MINISTER
FOR MEDIA 12 APRIL 1991
In line with the Federal Government's National Agenda for a
Multicultural Australia, I announce today the implementation
of the Community Relations Strategy.
This will provide $ 5.7 million to fund practical programs in
keeping with the objectives of the Agenda, released by the
Government in July 1989.
This is an important and concrete outcome of the Agenda,
which now sets in train community relations initiatives
targting all areas of our society.
It is appropriate that the strategy should be implemented at
this time when events in the Middle East continue to focus
attention on racial and religious differences. I am proud
that, despite some incidents of deplorable harassment of
Arab, Muslim and Jewish Australians during the Gulf War, the
vast majority of Australians clearly demonstrated their
commitment to a multicultural society by standing firm in
their opposition to such discrimination.
The strategy has been developed by four Government agencies:
the Office of Multicultural Affairs; Aboriginal Torres
Strait Islanders Commission; Department of Immigration,
Local Government Ethnic Affairs; and Human Rights Equal
Opportunity Commission. During planning, these agencies
consulted over 250 community organisations, together with
Commonwealth and State/ Territory government bodies, and each
agency will administer programs under the strategy.
Practical, innovative projects will be pursued under the
strategy tackling grassroots issues in areas such as
legislation, police, media, youth, education and public
housing. The initiatives being funded will involve wide
sections of the community and government at all levels.
I am delighted that community groups, Commonwealth,
State/ Territory and local governments are co-operating in
this initiative.
While the programs announced in the strategy are scheduled
for completion in 1992-93, this should not be seem as the
end of the strategy. The projects being tested, implemented
and evaluated will have wide implications for the community
as a whole and for individuals, particularly those from
under-represented groups for years to come. C-.