Multiculturalism Policy

Principles

1. The policies of the Greens NSW are based on social equity and redressing historic and ongoing discrimination causing disadvantage.

2. This policy seeks to focus on issues relating to justice for and with Australia’s multi-ethnic and multi-religious cultures.

3. The Greens NSW explicitly reject narrow constructions of multiculturalism and affirm the richness of cultures and the importance of ensuring that Australian society is equitable.

4. This policy focuses on the right to equal and equitable participation and decision-making processes in Australian society. It works to reduce tokenistic representation, and focus on profound economic, social and political change.

5. This policy is consistent with the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights, the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights and other relevant international conventions and agreements.

6. Anglo Celtic migrants are recognised as historically having greater participation in post-colonial Australian society, and for the purposes of this policy are included in the term “multi ethnic” society.

7. So this policy concentrates on those who have barriers to participation relating to being relatively recent migrants and refugees.

8. Policies focused specifically with issues relating to Indigenous people are dealt with elsewhere in Greens NSW policies.

Goals

The Greens NSW will work towards:

9. Promoting a democracy which entitles people to the practice of their own belief systems, sentiments and perspectives without fear of persecution, as long as they are not harmful to others;

10. Supporting the right of all people to live in safe surroundings free from harassment and vilification of any kind;

11. Promoting and engaging in action with individuals and governments which build community relations and a strong society; and

12. Creating a sustainable society by promoting an everyday practice of peaceful and equitable conflict resolution, mutual understanding, respect and social justice between people from differing cultural and subcultural groups, and with our natural environment.

Detail

The Greens NSW will work towards:

13. A just, equitable, inclusive and harmonious society both globally and locally;

14. A society in which everyone can participate equally;

15. Sustainable understanding and appreciation of multiculturalism in Australia and providing opportunities for ongoing cultural exchange internationally and intra-nationally;

16. Reconciliation with Indigenous Australians at all levels;

17. The shedding of all forms of racism, be it individual, group, or institutional and whether expressed overtly or covertly, and also to educate against ethnocentrism;

18. Protection of the civil, religious and political liberties of all citizens and the maintenance of regulation of markets as necessary to ensure that people from specific ethnic backgrounds are not exploited or discriminated against;

19. Protecting and enhancing legal and administrative structures and processes which support and promote these liberties;

20. Fostering of increased interest and participation by diverse ethnic and religious communities in popular engagement, leadership of organizations and in political representation at all levels of Australian society;

21. Fostering of equity in industrial relations and employment to redress discrimination in the workplace and ensure that the skills and qualifications of migrants are recognised and all Australians are given the opportunity to utilize their skills;

22. Provision of culturally sensitive settlement services and opportunities which facilitate equal opportunities for participation in Australian life, including promoting comparable services in rural regional and urban settings in areas such as health, legal assistance and education;

23. Ensuring that these settlement and support services are available to those holding temporary visas who are seeking to permanently settle in Australia - including refugees, spouses and fiancés of Australian citizens and those holding Criminal Justice Visas;

24. Adequate funding to ethnic community groups and other community groups promoting inter-cultural and intra-community understanding, which avoids the excesses of competition for grants;

25. Adequate, free and readily accessible English as a Second Language courses for all who wish to take them, and adequate financial and other assistance to ensure that survival needs do not preclude migrants from taking up these opportunities;

26. Provision of free interpreter services and multi-lingual information on government and community services for those who have been unable to learn English;

27. Recognition of the educational and social value of early childhood education in the language spoken by children in the home, and the value of providing opportunities for first language maintenance, as well as English language development;

28. Recognition of the importance of multicultural education which moves beyond tolerance to education based on rights enshrined in international law;

29. Presentation of positive non-stereotyped images of ethnic groups and people through the media and community networks; and

30. Continuation and expansion of SBS TV and Radio, and other media and cultural activities which caters to a variety of ethnic and cultural interests, helping them to maintain their traditional cultural identity, and educating Australians about the multicultural nature of the society.

Follow this link for The Greens NSW Multiculturalism Policy Summary.