( I
PRIME MINISTER
TRANSCRIPT OF THE. PRIME MINISTER, THE HON P J KEATING MP
SPEECH FROM THE DINNER, GLOBAL CULTURAL DIVERSITY
CONFERENCE, SYDNEY, 26 APRIL 1995
E& OE PROOF COPY
We have already had, today, a very good beginning to this conference this
important conference on global diversity, and I think there was a unanimity
of view that the conference began well it certainly did with the diversity of
that percussion performance we saw this morning, and I'm not sure that the
Secretary-General and I were percussing people, but I know that the
musicians were. At any rate, one is told that as the day closed, that it was a
successful day, and we are very pleased about that. Because this is a very
significant and important theme for the United Nations, and the world, to
embrace, because as we have remarked to ourselves over the course of
this day many of the world's problems are not now super-power problems,
they are not nation state problems they are problems which arise from
little differences and differences of view that have been concentrated into
virulent, in some cases, strains of objection and Intolerance and prejudice,
which threaten the peace of countries, the peace of regions and the peace of
the world. And we find ourselves joining in the United Nations in the
endeavour of seeking to remedy some of these problems, to quell these
conflicts, and we are coming to the conclusion very obviously that we are
better trying to deal with the problems at the source, rather tn the
manifestations of them, when they already arise. And so, by the United
Nations and the Secretary-General giving this conference its endorsement
and its imprimatur, we are bringing to the world agenda an appreciation of
the importance of diversity as something to celebrate, rather than something
to fear.
Now, this evening, We are continuing the thefrie, and the performers tonight
the musical entertainment tonight Is again, another cause for the celebration
of diversity, and the fact that it has enriched u. s all so very much. And let me
say, that in this country, nothing has enrich~ ed Australian cultural life more
than the new diversity of this country, and the openness to other cultures.
And they are the cultures of our Aboriginal people, Asian cultures around us,
European culture all of these things have been the cause of enriching this
country. I know there is now a threat or a iperceived threat, rather to the
internationalisation of culture, and we have seen this particularly in
entertainment, and we are very conscious of this because In this country, we
lost a film industry to Hollywood in the 1930s. I'm sure many of our
distinguished guests might not appreciate that there but for the grace of
Charlie Chaplin went the rest of us Charlie Chaplin, and Louis B Mayer and
the Warner Brothers were a hell of a team to beat, but we did have an
important Australian film Industry. We have lost one, and we are determined
not to lose another. You might know that, of course, we have the French
elections on at the moment, and we over the course of the Uruguay Round
we found ourselves implacably on the other side to the French in the Uruguay
Round, seeking to give the producers of the South a place in these big
agricultural markets, which unusually as a developed country, Australia
participated in. But, of course, the one thing we joined the French on at the
end of the Round was in protecting Intellectual property in protecting
cultural property. And, I think one can do these two thing that is, be proud
of one's own culture, and do the things to enrich it and protect it, but through
its strengths allow it to be open to others so we gain and secure a benefit
from them, So I think we shouldn't fear the international isation of culture -I
don't think it is a crude choice between selling ourselves or impoverishing
ourselves in the cause of cultural fidelity I don't think we need to do those
things. I think we take the general view that we can profit by being open to
the world, and if the proof of the pudding is In the eating, I'm sure that
Australia is an example. But we have seen it so often we have seen the
impact of Greek and Roman art and architecture on the world, we have seen
the power of Chinese culture, and the profound influence of Chinese art In
Europe in the 18th and 19th century, we have seen the Indian sitar infiltrate
its way into the music of Liverpool in the 1960s, we have every ' time we have
seen an openness to diversity, we have seen something better. And, of
course, let me say on our part, that here how we cherish in this country the
culture of Aboriginal Australians I think one of the great cultural phenomena
of recent Australian history has been the rejuvenation of Aboriginal culture,
and its integration with the non-indigenous cultures of Australia. And not only
that, but we are seeing it acclaimed around the world as well.
We welcome diversity it has been a cause of power to our arts and to our
culture, and it makes the point again that here we are having a conference
seeking to promote the idea that diversity is a cause of celebration, and can
be a cause of celebration, and something richer, and better, rather than
simply something that leads to division and fear and calamity.
Tonight, we are very appreciative of the fact that the Australia Council which
is Australia's premier arts funding body, the body most possessed of the
charter of promoting Australian art and culture has sponsored tonight's
performance, which we are about to enjoy, and has arranged with the
performers and the artists to come tonight to entertain us. I would like to
thank the Australia Council, and the performers, for doing this in the cause of
this great undertaking of increasing the awaren ess that we are seeking to
understand better at this conference about the value of global diversity,
worldwide. I would like to, most especially, thank the Secretary-General for
endorsing this conference, for coming here, for bringing his wife to Australia
it is a great honour he does us. He has, without a doubt, the hardest job in
the world. I don't think there Is . some say " well, the Presidency of the
United States Is the world's hardest job", and it may be true. But, seeking to
resource this body the United Nations in its diversity, and in another form
of diversity in seeking to secure the consensus that is always required to
move it forward, to renew it, to consider its future and how it might be
reformed these are the things, the tasks, which have fallen in this age of
ours to Doctor Boutros-Ghaii. It is with those heavy responsibilities, that we
know he has, that makes us appreciate ever so much more his attendance
here. Could I finally thank you all for being so enthusiastic about the conference
for coming to Australia, for doing us that honour, for joining us, and for
coming tonight to celebrate this dinner with us, and to hear some of the
performers, and some of the music, that I know you will be pleased to see.
ends.