The Federal Government has released the much-anticipated report of the Multicultural Framework Review, marking the first comprehensive examination of the state of Australian multiculturalism in a generation.
This independent report assesses the health of the nation’s multicultural society and offers recommendations to strengthen it for future generations.
“We have made the executive summary available in 33 languages on the Home Affairs website, ensuring that all individuals, no matter their English language proficiency, have the opportunity to access the outcomes of the review,” the Government announced.
Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, and Multicultural Affairs, Andrew Giles, emphasised the importance of the review, stating,
“Multiculturalism is one of the great successes of modern Australia, but there is still much work remaining to ensure all communities feel safe and can be proud of who they are, regardless of their religious, ethnic, or cultural background.”
He added, “The Review writes a new chapter in our multicultural story and will inform how we can work together to achieve a vibrant, prosperous multicultural future. Our shared values of respect, unity, and compassion will underpin our multicultural nation, and the report reflects how these principles can guide us towards peace and understanding.”
“Our diversity is our greatest strength, and this review showcases an Australia that we can build together as one united nation.”
Australia’s last major review of multiculturalism was over half a century ago. Since then, the country has transformed into a vibrant, multicultural nation welcoming people from nearly every country on Earth. More than half of Australians are either born overseas or have at least one parent who was.
A Panel of three eminent Australians Dr Bulent Hass Dellal AO, Ms Nyadol Nyuon OAM, and Ms Christine Castley led the review. They travelled the country, engaging with over 1,430 individuals and 750 organisations, including community groups, in more than 200 consultation events. The review received 796 submissions in all community languages through written submissions, audio, or video messages. Remarkably, 126 submissions were in languages other than English.
The report, titled “Towards Fairness – A Multicultural Australia for All,” highlights the importance of education, English language learning, and effective translation services in ensuring that all Australians can enjoy the benefits of living in the country. It also calls on governments and citizens to actively combat racism, which remains a significant issue for many Australians. The review found that experiences of discrimination and racism were among the top ten themes identified in the submissions.
The Panel’s comprehensive approach included listening to voices across various sectors, from schools and sports clubs to places of worship, arts, culture, and business. They engaged with diverse community and First Nations organisations, all tiers of government, and over a thousand ordinary Australians. Messages about the review were published in 35 community languages.
The Albanese Government has committed more than $100 million to support a stronger multicultural Australia. This funding will be invested in language services, community engagement, and enhancing amenities for multicultural organisations, enabling them to better serve their communities and the broader society.
Reflecting on Australia’s transformation, Minister Giles noted, “When the post-war immigration program began just after World War Two, Australia was a country of seven million people, 90 per cent of them of British and Irish descent. It was institutionally racist through its formal embrace of the White Australia policy.”
“Today, we welcome people from all over the world and invite them to become citizens and enrich our society and nation, as 7.5 million migrants in the past 75 years have done before them.”
The review underscores that multiculturalism is not merely a policy document but a lived reality thriving in communities, workplaces, institutions, sports grounds, streets, and homes. It acknowledges the strain placed on Australian society and its multiculturalism by recent challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, natural disasters, and overseas conflicts.
The Albanese Government’s commissioning of the Multicultural Framework Review marks a renewal of the vision introduced by former Immigration Minister Al Grassby, who, half a century ago, observed that while Australians had created “one of the most cosmopolitan societies on Earth,” the voices from migrant communities seeking a stronger place in the nation could not be ignored. This insight remains relevant today, as the Government seeks to embrace those who have settled in Australia rather than focusing on exclusion.
The review also highlights the growing cultural diversity of regional, rural, and remote Australia, and emphasises the role of First Nations peoples in the multicultural fabric of the nation. It calls for greater understanding and celebration of these cultures and their contributions.
The report includes a unique online gallery featuring 100 artworks by children and young people, depicting their perspectives on multicultural society and belonging in Australia. These works provide optimistic and colourful insights into the future of multiculturalism.
Minister Giles concluded,
“The Multicultural Framework Review while sounding an important caution that multiculturalism is always a work in progress, provides powerful grounds for optimism that our extraordinary achievement not just endure but continue to evolve so that everyone really belongs. I invite all Australians to read the report and engage with its findings.”
The Multicultural Framework Review is set to shape future policy outcomes, ensuring that Australia’s multicultural society continues to thrive and evolve, building a nation where everyone feels they truly belong.
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