NOTES ITALIAN CLUB s S:
1. Delighted to be here at the Italian Australian Club in
Launceston one of the only Italian Clubs in Australia that.
I haven't visited before.
Only two weeks aco I was at the Apia Club in Sydney
where I always feel at home with President Jim Bayutti, a great
Italian Australian who has done so much for his new country by
continuing to care for his homeland. I mention in passing that
he is on the board of Qantas and is the head of the new ethnic
radio station in Sydney, which is serving the multi-linual
as well as multi-cultural needs of our migrant communities. He
holds these positions. because of his ability and because he
represents the contribution being made by the 25 per cent of
our Australian population who were born in another country
2. But of course here in Tasmania, there is the remarkable
contribution d-? e by Claude Alcorso not only a most successful
textile entrep-zer r, but also a patron of the arts and of
education n : be hoard of the Australian Opera, and last
year appointed to -he Universities Commission.
3. Then there's Sergio Guidicci from Tasmania who ten years
ago was the first migrant from this State and quite possibly
the first from the whole of Australia to win the celebrated
Rhodes Scholarship which had always been regarded as a fairly
Anglo Saxon institution.
4. But your know as well as I that these figureheads are only
the tip of the iceberg that there are Italian Australians,
Australian Italians throughout Australia who have done wonders
for this country, for this State, people who have made excellent
citizens, people who have brought up families in the best blend / 2
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of Old tradi-bions and loyalties with. new challen,-es and
opportunities.* My Grovernment understands your asipirations fandI applauds
your initiatives. Clubs like -this ane are living examples
of the interdependence of our cultures. ' Whether they are called
Italian Australian or Australian Itlian no longer matters,
although I realise that ther was a time -and not so many
years ag-o w1-en it was considteredl more respectable, safer by
far -to includle Australian somewhere in the title.'. I would 1 lke
to think that vhere it does now appear in relation to ethnic
cl. ubs it is out of a feeling of affection and not of fear.
6. For my part, I feel a great love of Italy, her culture and
her people. Thctl is shared by my wife lNargaret who is in
Mexico at presen-t, in the Auqstralian delegation to a United
Nations Confergenc e on vomen for International W-omen's Year.
Also in is an Italian Australian women from
Melboure, ? zos vlho is on the National Advisory Committee
for Internation_, * 7ozen's Year in Australia. I know my wife
will feel more ' zna tinoe of re(~ ret at missingt out on my visit
here. Cathy * auahter will be able to tell her all about it
on her return. You kno%!, its always struck me that politicians wiv es
and daughters are quite properly choosey about what activities
they will get involved in, and I don't blame them. Bunt there's
never a. n excuse produced when I mention there's a visit to an
Italian Club coming up. 1/ 3
3-
7. Talking of excuses, I am reminded of criticism of my visit
to Europe last January. You will recall Liberal and Country
Party criticism of the fact that the Prime Minister of Australia
actually dared to take any time to visit those countries in
Europe that have given us more than a quarter of our entire
population. When I went to Italy for a very brief period,
unfortunately it was the first visit by an Australian Prime
Minister for over 15 years; 15 years during which thousands of
Italians had chosen to take the ' great gamble on building a new
life for themselves in a new Terra Australis. How wrong it
would have been, had I not visited your homeland to gain some
further insight into your birthplace. How wrong I would have
been to let such ill-considered, even prejudiced criticism,
cloud my judgment in that issue.
8. Of course it is proper, of course it is desirable, of course
it matters that the Prime Minister of this country should visit
those European =-untries who have given us so much for so long
their sons aan Their daughters, their labours and fortunately,
their loves.
9. And that brings me to the fact that my Government the
Australian Labor Government cares about what happens to
migrants when they come here, and doesn't just see people like
yourselves as another proposition in the workforce.
Ve realise the communications problems experienced by
newcomers; we recognise how lonely many migrant women feel;
we are aware that many migrants have been exploited because
of language problems in their work situations. We know that
while many migrant children are rightly described as " excellent
achievers", and are highly motivated to do well as school, / 4
because they ar so encouraged by their parents, others are
not so fortunate, and do iieed special attention.
11 This is one of the thnsI have been talking about
to John Macrostie about while I have been down he71e You kniow
he's a teacher himself, and by all accounts a vezy skiilled,
and imaginativ,; e one. He, li'ke Lance Barnard before him, wouldI
be able to help you with any difficulties your children mignht
experience Zat school. He has worked as a fitter and turner too,
and know,, s what its like to work in a factory, and as a skilled
tradesman he woulId listen -to any problems or idleas you had about
how to imporove -working situations for migrant men and women.
He has already . zai& l that he will listen to and. represent the
9r~~ S o ee: 777one in this electorate as L.-ance Barnard. ( lid
before him. I you all to vote f" or him on " InAurday.