PRWME MINISTER
CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY EM1BARGOED UNTIL DELIVERY
SPEECH BY THE PRIME MINISTER
OPENING OF GREEK-AUSTRALIAN CONFERENCE
MELBOURNE 13 M4ARCH 1987
Thank you for your invitation to open the Greek-Australian
conference here in Melbourne today.
I must at tic outset extend a special welcome to our
distinguishied guests from Greece. The Greek Government has
made a signi.~ icant contribution to the success of this
conference by sending to us the Deputy minister for Culture
responsible or Greeks Abro ' ad, the Minister-for the Aegean,
and the Deputy minister of Education Culture and Health.
Welcomae alioo to other members of the Greek Parliament,
univeraity professors and other Greek visitors. Your
presence is indeed a pleasure and an honour for us.
Seeing you here brings back warm memories of the hospitality
extended to me by Prime Minister Papandreou and the Greek
Government 6nd the very valuable talks we had in Greece last
year. That visitz, which stands out as a highlight in m~ y period as
Prime minister, was a splendid confirmation of the close
friendship and cooperation between Greece and Australia.
May I ask our Greek visitors to convey the regards and
respect oe the Australian Government and people to the Greek
Government and people on your return.
No one could visit Australia today without appreciating the
exceptional contribution Greek people have made to this
nation. There are well over 300,000 Australians whose first
language is Greek, in addition to those of succeeding
generations who have maintained the language of their
forebears. Many Australians cherish their Greek origin as
well as their Australian identity. And for us all the Greek
tradition is an essential component of our shared cultural
heritage. Today, G~ cck Australians are in a unique position to bring
together the best of both worlds the Greek love of freedom
and the A~ ustralian passion for equality of opportunity.
Since the beginning of European settlement Australia and
Greece have shared many experiences. Greeks first arrived
in this country in 1829 convicts who had been transported
for piracy in the Mediterranean. Since then the Greek
contribution to this nation has been felt and appreciated in
virtually every industry and occupation and in virtually
every town and city including, I am proud to say, in the
Australian Labor Party.
Australians hrive had other strong links with Greece. We
fought there in two World Wars.
While in Atiens last year, I had the memorable experience of
attending and speaking at the Anzac Day ceremony. I
recalled then, as 7* do now, the Battle of Crete, where
Australians stood side by side with their Greek and other
allies defending Greece against the Axis invaders. Those
dramatic days have left enduring friendships, not only among
those who fougjht, but among men and women of succeeding
generations. Greek Austrailians and Australian ex-service personnel are
joining to erect an Australian-Hellenic Memorial in Canberra
to commemorate these shared experiences.
Our Government was happy to be able to make a site available
near the Australian War Memorial in Canberra and I look
forward to launching the appeal to raise funds for the
Australian Hellenic Memorial early next month.
The very Gijnificant Greek-Australian component of our
population mlakes it especially important that Greece be well
represented in our Bicentenary celebrations next year. A
Greek Australian Bicentenary Committee has been established
in Athens to co-ordinate Greek participation. We are keen
to explore ways in which some of the exciting proposals that
emerged fromt the Committee's first meeting last month might
be implemented. We look forward too to the participation of
representatives from Greece in the many commemorative
sporting, academic, cultural and other events and activities
which will he a special feature of life in Australia in
1988.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The Austral-an community represents an almost unparalleled
diversity of ethnic, linguistic, cultural and religious
origins and identities. We have been a multicultural
community since at least 1788. Today, one in five
Australians was born overseas, one in three has parents born
overseas and immigrants make up a quarter of the labour
force.
3.
In recognition of this diversity, the Australian government
has developed and adopted multiculturalism as a key social
policy. The concept has been articulated as a legitimate
element of the national political agenda since the early
19701s, for which we acknowledge the contribution of an
earlier Labor government.
Multiculturalism has developed as a social policy which
significantly affects all Australians. It is predicated on
the notion of equality--o opportunity for all, not isolated
privilege for. some.
The basic p'-iiiciples of multicultural ism have most recently
been enunciated in the Government's Review of Migrant and
multicultural Programs and Services.
This stated that, first, all members of the Australian
community should have an equitable opportunity to
participate in the economic, social, cultural and political
life of the nation.
Second, all members of the Australian community should have
access to an equitable share of the resources which
governments manage on behalf of the community.
Third, all mzmbers of the Australian community should have
the opportunity to participate in and influence the design
and operaition of government policies, programs and services.
And finally, all members of the Australian community should
have the right, within the law, to enjoy their own culture,
to practise their own religion, and to use their own
language and should respect the rights of others to their
own culture, religion and language..
Multiculturalism thus does not deny the importance of
promoting rocial harmony and a distinctive national
identity. 7ndeed multiculturalism is essential if we are to
promote a sense of unity as a nation. After all, few things
are more divisive or destabilising than attempts to impose
inequality or repress individuality. That way lies discord
an~ d disunity.
Multiculturalism is more than mere rhetoric. All
Australians, irrespective of background, have the right to
participate fully in national life and it is incumbent on
government to identify and remove barriers to that process,
and to mtake the resources of the community fairly available
to all Australians. The Government must, further, ensure
equitable access to its own services.
We must su~ pport people in exercising not only their
obligations but also their rights to influence the shaping
of decisions and programs that affect them. Consultation
will continue to be a guiding principle of this Government.
4.
I recently appointed my colleague Mick Young as Minister for
Immigration aind Ethnic Affairs. He has long had a keen
interest in Australia's migrant community not least as
shadow Minister for three years.
Mr Young wil Ibe assisted in this portfolio by Minister
Clyde Holdirig.
I have also asked Mr Young to assist me in my portfolio
duties on multicultural Affairs.
Today I wish to announce further steps in my Government's
enhancement of multiculturalism.
I am establishing twzo bodies dealing with multiculturalism
the Advisory Council on Multicultural Affairs and the Office
of Multicultural Affairs.
The Advisory Council will be reporting directly to me and to
Mr Young.
The Council is to be chaired by Justice Sir James Gobbo of
the Victorian Supreme Court. Sir James has had a leading
role in serving Governments and community groups. He is
exceptionally placed to advise on the policy of
multiculturalism and to help further its acceptance and
expression in today's Australia. Sir James will undoubtedly
be more then ably assisted by his Deputy, Mlr George Wojak,
who also has an acknowledged record of service across all
sections of the Australian comvmunity. He is currently
President of the Federation of Ethnic Communities Councils
of Australia.
I expect the Council to play a key role in providing advice
on ways to promote Australia's continuing evolution as a
multicultural community.
The Council will be supported in its role by the new office
of Multicultural Affairs being established in my Department.
The Head of the office is Dr Peter Shergold. Peter has been
Associate Professor in the Department of Economic History at
the University of New South Wales. He will already be known
to many of you through his research expertise and his work
with the Federation of Ethnic Communities Councils as well
as his direct responsibilities in setting up the Ethnic
Archives at the University of New South Wales.
These decisions are significant.
For we cannot assume that the ideals of multiculturalism
will win by default.
All of us who believe in these values must be prepared to
defend them.
Reactionary forces in various guises are now engaged in a
concerted assault on the basic decencies which are
fundamental to Australia.
Attempting to appeal to fear, uncertainty and ignorance,
they are seeking tQ redistribute public wealth from ordinary
Australians to the greedy few; to put a strait-jacket on our
great institutions of organised labour; to realign our
foreign policy with the diminishing centres of racism and
apartheid.
And I have no doubt that they also have multiculturalism in
their sights.
People who should know better purport to find something
sinister in the Bicentennial concept of " Living Together".
Presumably they look back fondly to the origins of European
settlement in Australia brilliantly and starkly described in
Robert Hughes' ' The Fatal Shore'.
As Hughes points out, the establishment of that era not only
sought for example, to subjugate our Irish ancestors. Their
treatment of Australia's Aboriginal community had much
harsher and~ more tragic consequences. it is only in the
past 20 years that Federal Governments of both major parties
have taken real steps to redress the balance.
Yet there are those today who would still impose an
assimilationist, monolithic standard to which all groups
should conform, who would withdraw assistance from those
groups who need it, who have no concern for access or
equity, who, as I have said, even baulk at the humanity in
the notion of ' Living Together'.
one of our 9teat achievements as a nation is that we have
transcended cur intolerant, divisive origins. I am proudwe
can all be proud that Australia has developed into a
cohesive and essentially very decent and humane society, in
which people of different ethnic backgrounds, religions,
races and languages are able to get " a fair go".
This Government will do what must be done to defend and
advance thiG vital process.
That is why I believe our initiatives on multiculturalism
are important and timely.
And that is why it is very appropriate that the Victorian
Government in conjunction with the Greek Government and the
Greek commuinities of Victoria should have organised this
Conference to discuss and assess the needs and concerns of
the Greek community in the 1980' s.
I congratulate you on this initiative and wish you success.