Cronulla Part III

Dec 15, 2005

Cronulla Part III

After a few days reading the comments on this and other sites, as well as reading a range of articles, engaging in some debates and giving it further thought myself, here are some other conclusions I’ve come to.

1 My two other posts on the Cronulla race riot and related actions have got more visitors than any other I’ve done since I started blogging over 15 months ago. They also drew a lot of comments, including a reasonable number from people who hadn’t commented before. I guess this could indicate that, beyond the unrest being of widespread interest, the issues involved also raise strong interest and opinions, and may touch on some key matters of dispute in the community.

2 The public discussions, shown even just on the two Cronulla threads on this site, have demonstrated that much of this debate involves people talking on different planes, and using the same words to mean very different things. No doubt this is part of why such situations are so hard to resolve.

A key example is the word ‘multiculturalism’. Aron Paul’s description of it in his comment equates pretty much with my view: multiculturalism as a policy “aims at integration of diverse cultural groups into a cohesive community and national identity that transcends race/ethnicity. It recognises that ‘assimilation’ is unrealistic as a policy and leads to trouble/resentment and greater difficulties in integrating communities.”

But other commenters equated multiculturalism with deliberately encouraging (or at least facilitating) segregation. The result is that when a bunch of people in the community hear ‘multiculturalism’, some (like me) hear a term which embodies the importance of treating people equally regardless of their ethnic background, while others (like Gibbo) hear a term which seeks to justify treating people differently depending on their ethnic background. Not surprisingly, this makes it rather more difficult to reach common ground.

3 Guido also points to different understandings in what ‘racism’ means, and how it is sometimes wrongly equated to ‘xenophobia’ (although the two aren’t mutually exclusive obviously). It seems the new political correctness is that we aren’t allowed to call any Australian people, attitudes or actions racist, as this is somehow anti-Australian. I understand the problem in being too ready to use this (or any other) label too easily or readily, but frankly we have got to a stage where our refusal to label racist actions or statements for what they are is giving credence to views which should be unacceptable in Australia. Whenever debates happen about race related issues, as has occurred following the Cronulla riots, there are always lots of mentions about the need to have some universal, shared Australian values. One of the comments asked “what are our shared Australian values”. This is a discussion I believe our country would benefit from having. Like any set of values, they will define and put boundaries on each other, but surely one of our shared values has to be that racism is not acceptable. As this comment said, “most of us catch ourselves out being racist in small ways from time to time”, and the potential to be racist is something which is present in virtually everybody. This is precisely why we have to be much stronger in asserting that it is not acceptable. For political and community leaders to pretend it’s not really there is just a subtle way of saying that it’s OK.

4 Some of the Cronulla situation is an ‘only in Sydney’ thing, with aspects that are unique to Sydney and its local cultures, history, media and politics. Indeed the more I read about the various factors and views, the more it strikes me how very Sydney-centric so much of it is. ~~It is hard to see the same sort of thing happening in Brisbane, or (at least from my experience and knowledge of them) in any other city in Australia.~~ That’s not to say that everywhere else in Australia is all sweetness and light – I know of some regional towns where the racial atmosphere is pretty poisonous, usually involving resentment and antagonism towards and from Aboriginal people, rather than migrants. EDIT: Have thought some more and changed my mind on this – there are certainly some key factors to this particular situation that are unique to Sydney, but the same sort of thing could happen in plenty of other places in Australia, if people let it.

5 It is obvious that talkback radio and other media have played a role in inflaming this problem – over a long period of time, not just the last week or so. This is another aspect that has uniquely Sydney components. Compared to the talkback I hear (and have occasionally participated in) in other Australian cities, talkback radio in Sydney (to my ears at least) seems far more prone to foam at the mouth, unashamedly and quite deliberately aiming at tapping into people’s inner-bigot, and more interested in reinforcing and validating ignorance than dispelling it. I say this not to have an easy shot at the media, but to flag one of its dilemmas (and indeed one of the dilemmas of democracy and politics too). If you want to attract attention, whether for ratings, sales or votes, there is no doubt that conflict and fear rates way better than peace and harmony.

The same dilemmas exist on a smaller scale on blogs and websites, as well as all the other mechanisms for disseminating and expressing views. Freedom of speech is essential to democracy, especially given the narrow focus and agendas of the mainstream media. However, there is no doubt that they can also be a means for vilification even more vociferous and extreme than would be feasible in the mainstream media. Censorship can’t and shouldn’t counter this, and people need to be able to speak strongly against things they oppose. However, we do need to regularly remind ourselves of the potential for political rhetoric from both left and right to inflame and divide, and to reinforce and entrench prejudice, rather than help overcome it. I can’t see an easy solution to this dilemma, but one none the less needs to be conscious that it exists.

6 David Flint has rushed to defend those in the media who inflamed rather than informed. He does the same himself, deliberately putting up a false definition of multiculturalism so he can then attack it. “If (multiculturalism) is used to mean that people should be classified and then advantaged or disadvantaged according to some ethnic tag, or that the essential principles and values of our Australian culture must give way, this is unacceptable”

In a much more coherent offering in The Australian, Mike Steketee explores the almost pathological aversion by John Howard and some other political leaders to using the word “racist”.

Larvatus Prodeo points to how Cronulla is becoming the latest conscript in the culture wars waged by the elites.

7 Finally, links to a couple of satirical entries from William Burrows Baboon – here and here – just cos I like them.

and at time of posting, “Cronulla” has slowly sunk to number 6 on Technorati. It should be out of the Top 10 by Saturday.

ADDITION:
Laurie Oakes’ piece in The Bulletin on John Howard’s politically driven response to Cronulla says pretty much all that needs to be said.

According to the prime minister, there is no underlying racism in this country. That was John Howard’s claim during the ugly violence that rocked Sydney and trashed Australia’s international reputation. If Howard really believes it, he has been wasting his time blowing his dog whistle all these years. But, of course, the man who cashed in so cleverly on the prejudices exposed by Pauline Hanson’s brief period of political glory knows better.

And if proof of that was needed, the PM supplied it when he was asked on A Current Affair about the drunken hoons involved in the Cronulla violence, who wrapped themselves in the Australian flag. Howard — still with an eye to the lessons he learned from Hansonism — could not bring himself to criticise this behaviour.

“Look, I would never condemn people for being proud of the Australian flag,” he said. It was a disgusting cop-out, and an inglorious way for Howard to end the political year. What those louts did was just as much an abuse of the Australian flag as the flag burning by a Muslim youth outside an RSL club during the revenge “smash and bash” raids which followed the Cronulla riots.

The comment facility for this posting is now closed

67 Comments, Comment or Ping

Mark Bahnisch

Nice post, Andrew.

Does trackback work on the new site? I just tried to send you one but it hasn’t appeared.

Dec 16th, 2005
Mark Bahnisch

Oops – I spoke too soon!

Dec 16th, 2005
Eleri

Excellent post Andrew. It is remarkable how strongly people hold very clear views about what happened in Cronulla and what caused or led up to this latest unrest. So many of the posts I have read have been strident in their opinions but, as you say, often use the same words but with different meanings attached.

I’m pleased that the talk in Sydney over the last couple of day or so is now about moving forward, community lead responses and dealing with the underlying issues. I’ve got more confidence in that approach than I have in an over-the-top police response I have to say.

Dec 16th, 2005

As a pollie, that you have a bona fide blog is a credit to you. Thank you.

Leaders set the tone for the country. I realised this morning, that some kids have only ever known a Howard Government which is a bit sad.

Dec 16th, 2005
Ken

Senator

A good summation of the last few days posts. I’d have shortened it to say that that the normal curve is alive and well, with most hovering around the middle and a few exhibiitng all the characetrsitics of a couple of standard deviations from the norm in either direction. Even the five already today conitnue that truism.

Just a quick note to Link – kids have parents – the values of kids are inherently or should be set by thier parents – not politicians. Politicias rarely (wrt to the Senaotr) lead they follow. The mood of this nation was well and truly shifitng, if indeed it ever did, before Howard came along. jack land understood that in the 30″s nothing much has chnaged, much as we might like it to

Dec 16th, 2005
Chris

Why not legislate an official meaning of multiculturalism. At the moment if anyone criticise it the usual response is ‘that’s not what it means’. The multiculturalists do a very good job of shifting the goalposts.

Dec 16th, 2005
dodgyville

Which multiculturalists do you mean? The good ones or the bad ones???

Dec 16th, 2005
Evil Pundit

Aren’t they all bad?

Dec 16th, 2005
libertybelle

We should all be furious about the role of talkback radio which acted to inflame and motivate many people to become racist thugs, by now you will have all heard about 2GB’s host Brian Wilshire who spoke the most disgusting commentary about Australian Lebanese. He followed up that lead from Alan Jones. Seriously these blokes will only be stopped by the courts. What can we expect from the ABA who should monitor and take action? Lets look to the former leader of that organization David Flint and his politics. His refusal to see the role of the media leaves me breathless. Has he left a culture of ignorance behind in the ABA? In the same way a culture of ignorance was left behind when Ruddock left immigration. A culture of ignorance, how polite can I be, it is a culture of xenophobia a living breathing organism. Is this just a Sydney thing? I doubt it. However the hysteria is higher here because the subcultures are larger.
This weekend the beaches from Newcastle to Woolongong are policed. Convoys of police cars pass by in the Eastern suburbs as I write. The news is that dis?youth are converging from interstate this weekend. I find that believable in this climate. Somehow they are all victims.

Dec 16th, 2005
O Ekdikitis

What a week the Christians have had.
On Sunday we saw marauding mobs of White Anglo-Irish Christians hunting down (terrorising) and attempting to murder innocent bystanders.
Today a 24 year old Anglo-Christian was charged with the murder of his 5 month old daughter.
Yesterday we saw another Anglo-Christian – charged with the murder of his 3 kids.
A couple of days ago we saw Bradley Murdoch, of White Anglo-Irish Christian Appearance & background, convicted of the Murder of Falconio.
We also see two white Anglo-Christians being charged with bomb-making today. Terrorists the lot of ‘em.
What is happening in the White Anglo Christian community. Is it joblessness, is it a lack of a sense of belonging, is it lack of parenting, or is it that the White Anglo Christians are incompatible with the culture of this country? Are they just too different to fit into ‘our’ civilisation?
I am yet to see anyone from the White Anglo Christian Churches come out on TV and unequivocally condemn all of these actions. Where are the White Anglo Christian community leaders? No condemnation from them either. Could it be that they are comparatively less educated than the rest of us? Could it be that they have a victim mentality due to England’s conflict with Northern Ireland, or a sense of guilt for their Colonial days?
I say send them all back to where their great, great, great, great, grandparents came from.
Enough is enough. We must make a stand and take back our suburbs from the Christian menace.

O. Ekdikitis

Dec 16th, 2005
melloncramps

“Anglo-Irish”

Thats a new one.

Dec 17th, 2005
dodgyville

LOL Ekdikitis

Dec 17th, 2005
armaniac

Wonder if this is time to revisit the idea that in a secular nation we still have schools set up explicitly to encourage people of certain religious groups to be brought up separately and not integrate into our mixed aussie way of life.

Start at the GPS and work down…

Dec 17th, 2005
armaniac

Your point about multiculturalism is a good one.

Just to add.

Dec 17th, 2005
Aron Paul

I went to the impromptu sms protest against racism in Bourke Street Mall yesterday. Several hundred people showed up and filled the mall. I hear there is a bigger one planned this Sunday – some kind of ‘picnic for peace’ which does sound nice.

Yesterday’s however seemed to be planned by so called ‘socialists’, so there was a bit too much talking and someone wanted to march to the Liberal Party headquarters – hardly a recipe for ‘nonviolent protest’ in my opinion. I guess this is the peril of ‘flash protests’ – Naomi Klein would be proud, but you never know what you’re going to get!

Dec 17th, 2005
Roger Callen

Xenophobia and racism both devolve on the fear of the other, of one’s essential way of life being threatened by the different beliefs of others. Basically, we don’t like to be reminded that we make it all up, and that we, by being born into a society have been imbued with a certain mind set of a very fundamental kind. It frightens us that all may be arbitrary after all and we do everything in our power to cover that up – or push the other away. The fact is we have the ability to change our behaviour because we are essentially creative made-up beings, or at least to recognise our peculiar human trait of fearing the other and make strategies for dealing with it.
I don’t think we should neccessarily expect our ethnic groups and indigenous groups to adapt to a specific monoculture, if they want to exist as more or less autonomous enclaves, let them, but do encourage them to join in with the shared culture (which should not be “the dominant” culture, implying a hegemony) and expect that culture to change as they do so. Part of the problem is believing we have a fixed identity that never changes and is attached to some sort nationalistic flag-waving. The debate and contestation that is going on in these blogs (and presumably many others) and in the community over what multiculturalism means is healthy – some sort of concensus will develop and will always be changing – so don’t define it, that destroys its openness, and our strength is in openness and ability to adapt. Each group, individual, will have to change and will change us in the process. Speaking of change, I would like to see more involvement of communities and individuals in decision making that affects us all. And the senate, when it includes a wide range of small groups and individuals as well as the major parties, is a wonderful institution for doing that, with its committees that allow public contributions. I would also like to see more autonomy of smaller groups and their ability to make decisions for themselves. (If anything increases it is compexity and interdependence!)
Roger Callen

Dec 17th, 2005
O Ekdikitis

Well put Roger.

I believe the fear, in the dominant culture in any country on earth, is that in allowing their culture to slowly evolve with the influx of different immigrants they are losing or “diluting” their own culture.
This dilution does inevitably occur but such an averaging out of cultures is a very slow process and will not negatively impact the lives of the dominant culture. It is the immigrant who inevitably ‘gives-up’ alot more of their cutlure than the existing residents. For example a Sudanese immigrant feels a much greater culture shock and must make vastly greater adjustments when he arrives than does his new neighbour. There is no reason to compel either one to change.
We and our grandchildren will be long dead before the dominant culture in Australia is made up of Black Gay Asian Muslims (not that there’s anything wrong with that).

Dec 17th, 2005
Kay Webster

Andrew

Many thanks for your Blog. I agree with another poster – along the lines of – it’s good seeing a politician speaking out as you do. I don’t vote for you though – sorry.

Andrew, can you get Parliament to release a national, and of course legalised, definition of the following terms, so that all people are speaking the same language when they speak of: racism, multiculturalism, xenophobis, prejudice?

Here are two examples of mine – based on the works of Allport 1969 – which I believe still stand well (my words and my interpretation).

Prejudice is thinking ill or badly of others without sufficient warrant. And Xenophobia is about having a morbid fear of foreigners – without sufficient warrant.

Merry Christmas mate to you and family and all posters – and Peace to Islam.

Dec 17th, 2005
libertybelle

gee whizz Kay so why don’t you vote for Andrew?

Dec 17th, 2005
Speedy

The fear is basically the fear of the unknown. In my opinion this problem has been created, unwittingly by government policy since the 70′s which has increasingly decreased emphasis on the integration of immigrants into the wider Australian population/society. In particular it is the failure to emphasise the learning of a proficient level of English. It is this failure to communicate with greater population that encourages the build up of the ethnic ghettoes you see in Sydney and sunsequent failure to socialise with and get to know people from a more diverse cultural background and here we get back to my first sentence of fear of the unknown.

Well thats my opion anyway.
Of course I havebeen wrong in the past..

Oh and libertybelle, I din’t vote for Andrew either :), reason being I don’t live in Queensland, well also because I normally vote Labor in the lower house and Liberal in the upper. Though I reversed that last election for the obvious reason of Mark Latham :).

Dec 17th, 2005
Speedy

Damn no edit ability, maybe I should have proofread that before posting :D

Dec 17th, 2005
Dee

WHY do we need immigrants in Australia?

What is the reason that so many countries/cultures have gone to War? – mainly territory/land and religion issues.

Look at the USA and their never ending problems with their immigrants, The Netherlands, France, Fiji, United Kingdom, etc.,

USA according to their latest figures now have a population that is composed of 25% Afro-Americans and Hispanics and still have never-ending social problems – it may have provided cheap labour and helped to improve economic power but the price paid?.

This present problem re immigration in Australia especially Sydney – a very important Policy that the population have NEVER been asked to vote for or against, a policy that is causing a pot to boil and bubble for 30 years in Sydney, many of us have got on with our business, at first not commenting about migration as it was not the polite thing to do (& the pollies counted on this reaction -it suited their purposes) then as it kept intruding into our daily lives we started mumbling to each other that we are not impressed with the direction our City/country is taking with the large numbers of migrants entering, especially those migrants who have vastly opposing cultures to the Australian way of life.

The silent MAJORITY are the backbone of this Country, they are in the main, conservative law abiding citizens who unlike many migrants of the last 30 years – not the Greeks or Iitalians after the War) have solidly contributed to this country and made it what it is today – as did their forbears. They are not the Surfies or youth that are being blamed today, in the main they are the 25+, but I was surprised and gratified to see this heartfelt reaction by the youth about their Country – though not happy about the violence and the way they expressed it, but maybe their frustration had built up to such a degree and the law certainly was not doing their job over the years with the Lebanese youth – particularly under Police Commissioner Peter Ryan – this was not a result of the Police Force in general but they were hamstrung .

I get sick to death of seeing minority groups and their mullahs and various ethnic community “leaders” on TV – why should we even give them space? possibly in their own country they would not even be allowed to speak let alone thrown into jail. We see the politicians cow – towing to these ethnic groups for their votes now due to the fact that they have such large populations/voters.

That a Liberal Party conference should have Lebanese persons toting guns hidden under their suits at this Conference in 2004. Why didn’t J Howard esq. under his anti gun legislation have guns removed and charge these people?

That these various migrant groups have their own schools in Australia and JHoward esq supports same – how divisive to encourage these schools. Integration?

That Pre Schools in large Muslim population areas have some years ago removed references to Christianity and Christmas and Carols are simply ignored and are not celebrated. This is not about religion it is about traditions in Australia.

I was but am no longer an occasional surfer at North Cronulla, I have never listened to shock jocks and for the same reason I do not buy newspapers – I am not interested in their OPINIONS -I want facts and non-twisted ones at that , then I formulate MY opinions.

It is a lack of ability of politicians to institute cutting edge leadership-personally I don’t think that representatives of all parties know what the word means.

Examples of Leadership: small island state such as Singapore who self-examined then instituted reform peculiar to them to institute a vibrant economy – though I would not want to live in a controlled state as this.

Duchy of Luxembourg, Principality of Monaco who looked at their particular situation and instituted reforms that would benefit their Principality – without resorting to migration – temporary work visas are issued.

J Howard esq changed the laws that forced large companies to have an R&D facility in Australia, and/or get a tax break on doing further depleting our abilities. http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/browseArchive.ac?sy=nstore&cls=1663

Why do the Scandanavian countries and other similar, quite often resource poor countries have high standards of living?

What would the present government do if they had not had a natural and plentiful supply of Natural Gas and Coal that China particularly requires to fuel its economic rise and which has helped the present Federal Government to ensure economic stability and cheap loan money – though this money is not as cheap as Asia – loan money that fuelled the housing economy & helped to keep the Federal Liberal Party in office. What about the Keating reforms that has helped the present Federal Gov’t with its economic “performance”.

The Labor Party has long been in the wilderness and the “Leaders” they offer cannot be considered seriously – even in desperate times.

Surely these immigrants are needed in their own backyards /Countries, and should stay there to help with their own problems – not run away from them and then cause problems in the host country, problems that were not present before their arrival , and it is not unusual for these immigrants to return to their Country when the problems there have settled.

What about the large sums of money that are remitted to the various countries of origin of immigrants, money that could well be churned back into the Australian economy?

When Keating was in power he helped to build up the Asian numbers in Australia – many Asians who still own & commute between Australia and their businesses in their respective countries and had a two way bet and/or helped their children to get a good cheap education here living in the property they bought in Australia – even 12, 14, 16 year olds living without their parents in Sunnybank Hills Q’land and other suburbs. I can remember living in the UK around that time and the number of UK citizens – well qualified – who told me that their Applications had been refused by the Australian Government, and I told them Asians were being admitted by the bucket loads – and many I would not feed personally.

There is a lot of resentment in Australia by people who have contributed in many ways to this Country as have their forbears to “muticulturism “.

I always chuckle when it is rolled out that we now have wonderful new foods in Oz because of immigration – buy a recipe book! More people now travel overseas and can see eat view others cultures , let alone the numbers of travel shows and documentaries about other countries and their cultures .

I remember the Lebanese who came here in the 1960′s and made their cash in hand money – one guy I remember went back to Lebanon bought flats and lived in his penthouse eventually the flats were bombed & destroyed in their civil war. His 2 youngest children born in Oz refused to go with him , the other 4 returned to Lebanon – it was always the fathers intention to make “cash in hand” income, working in the building trade and then go back to Lebanon “buy flats ” and receive the Oz pension there .

Andrew, Brisbane and environs is White Australia Policy land, after 25 years in Q’land I have been living (temporarily) back in my home town of Sydney for 2 years – I have visited Sydney many times over the years, and am deeply saddened at the negative effect that multiculturism has had and is having – get out and talk to people, I was talking to a friend of mine yesterday in Queensland and speaking with her reminded me of how little Brisbane is aware let alone affected by the large groups of migrants – the majority live in Sydney – Suburb after suburb is “taken over” by Chinese particularly, just dig a little deeper when asking former Sydneysiders why they have moved right out of Sydney and commute daily – if they have to – for work reasons, and they shall tell you that they got sick of seeing non Australian faces and hearing a babble of languages that they could not relate to in suburbs they have grown up in and their parents lived and died in, let alone the violence – usually Lebanese I am told.

One man said his whole suburb – shops included was taken over by Chinese in 12 months and he had had enough,, sold up and is now very happy living on the Central Coast where a Gidday mate and a chat is the everyday norm.

Every post office I go into has an indian though mostly chinese who can barely smile, the local Vet tells me chinese ask for discounts on their vet fees (standard fee applies) the neurosurgeon tells me a story of how he was asked for a discount on his fee (not high – though a top neuro) and then he saw the chinese person stepping into a chauffered Rolls Royce . I ask a question of the Chinese Newsagent who points in a direction instead of informing, making one explain over and over again until they understand the question. I see Australian humour, helpfulness and warmth being removed from everyday transactions when in the Post office, Newsagent(s) I have heard horrific stories of roaming gangs beating up white young men for no reason. Of needles found in motel rooms in the southern area and how the lebanese youth were banned for drugs from this motel. Of friends years ago telling me of a young man who left his girlfriend eating in Miranda Fair centre while he went to the toilet only to come back and see her being harassed by a gang of Lebanese youths, who when asked politely to leave this couple alone, promptly punched the young Australian man who ended up in hospital, I read of rapes etc

On Wednesday last week, I was in Chatswong or Chinkswood as the former northern suburb is now referred to by Australians of all ages in the northern suburbs of Sydney, I was forced to move as I quitely waited for my coffee, 3 Chinese youths spoke in Chinese and were so loud that it forced me to move my seat. This lack of respect by Chinese for others is part of their culture but not Australia’s – this in your face behaviour is constantly reminding people of unwanted differences of other cultures in our everyday life.

I enterDavid Jones – Chatswood November 2004 and ask for a size & type of Bra, immediately the Chinese shop assistant cups one of my breasts and tells me what she thinks I should buy. I walked away in shock and finding the bra I wanted I returned and handed the bra to the same lady – no other assistant was visible, she again cupped my breast and told me I should buy another style of bra. David Jones Chatswood Chase 10 years ago – this happening? NEVER. Continually I find other cultures standards, forced upon us and politicians back off and the born and bred Australian is quitely disgusted but says nothing as this is considered rude. Yet the cultures a number of migrants come from would not even think of their behaviour as being rude and sadly it is quite often those cultures who have little or no intention of “when in Rome do as the Romans do” and the Aussies ends up feeling as though he/she should apply for the “Member of the Minority Races” Allowance.

Andrew and other pollies – get out and and mix in the real world, there is a lot of dissatisfaction about immigration from many stratas of the Sydney community and not only about the lebanese or muslims races. In fact, there is a lot of dissatisfaction in general with the way the standards have dropped. People are and have been for a long time fed up with being told by the various community “leaders” that “Multiculturalism/immigration is a wonderful success in Australia – now there’s another Government Advertising campaign $$$ . I don’t think that people of many countries could give a toss about immigration, only Koffie & the UN who are out of touch and not doing their job well but want to be seen as politically correct would clap hands at Australia and other countries declaring themselves as welcoming immigrants.

I love travel and revel in living and visiting other cultures IN THEIR COUNTRY, this even applies to England – the land of my Father and Mother in 1900. When I come back to Australia I do not want to have to continually repeat myself to make myself understood in my own country – yes I speak english, english english according to the poms when I lived in the UK. I do not want to be greeted by people in turbans nor look at people in raincoats with head scarfs in our sunny country, nor have a sour chinese face when I return. I like to have a cheery “Ow are you going luv ” from an Australian and am so delighted when a taxi has an Australian driving who knows where he is going, does not claim that his meter is not working and tries to overcharge and I cannot understand him and who has to be forced to help with bags . If I want I see/live with other Cultures I shall go travelling and enjoy it as part of the travel experience. Australia is unique – lets keep it that way!

I do not want to see my elderly fellow Australian being shoved aside using a trolley at the Airport by a Chinese couple who kept on chatting with each other, the elderly lady in question was so amazed she just looked shocked and did not speak, when my luggage arrived before the Chinesecouple’ on the roundabout, I used my trolley to wheel through this couple. Sad isn’t that one is forced to this behaviour in Australia and lowering ones personal standards but I was not going to let this couple bring their rude, ignorant ways into Australia – I hope the message got through to them – I doubt it they are used ot this same treatment by their fellow Chinese .

AND FOR GOD’s SAKE – DO NOT CALL ME A RASCIST ! Such an abused term.

I do not want to pay taxes for the welfare recipients – and believe you me many from other Countries know far more than most Ozzies about how the system works and how to get around it. We are laughed at by these other cultures for giving away so much. I personally witnessed a Chinese girl who gained entry to Australia as her sister who was studying in Australia when Tiannamen Square erupted, she obtained Austudy got a 2nd degree at Griffith University (International Relations) and improved her English, she returned to Shanghai as she had always intended to not liking Brisbane much at all , especially when she worked in 2 very different jobs and was employed by Chinese who treated her with indifference and worked her for as minimal amount as they could . Her sister is now doing a further degree – thanks to the welfare system, her parents after living here for 2 years and supplying babysitting to this girl, now recieve the pension, they all intend to return to their flat in Shanghai (Gov’t flat kept registered with the Chinese gov’t by relatives while they’re in Australia). The sister who now works in Shanghai rang me one night telling me that she had been naturalised the night before, when I said I would have come to the ceremony she said it was nothing it wasn’t important – she now has an Australian Passport in case she needs it or any benefits needed in future. I liked this Chinese girl quite a lot but i didn’t and don’t like her attitude to Australia. I could give many examples of use and abuse of Oz – things we simply could not get away with in their and other countries. She is now employed by a European Trading Company in Shanghai.

I have listened to building sites nearby calling out for prayer on the loudspeaker system in the daytime and wondered which country I was in with all the loud foregin language being used around me , rudely called out to as I walk by Lebanese workers, shoved by Lebanese youth in shopping malls in Sydney.

There are far more serious stories that can be recounted but I think a book is in order and I have to get back to producing an income and paying taxes to keep the police paid and the various Oz systems working so that we can fix it all up the current problems with extra police patrols that shall solve this problem according to the new Premier of NSW.

For heavens sake – look at the underlying reasons for the loutish behaviour at Cronulla Nth – this is merely a symptom by a section of the public who are feeling frustrated and find it difficult to articulate and also feel that their voice is not being heard by the people elected to do so.

As it did to many other Australians who were saddened to see the riots I sincerely thank the police who are at the front line in these situations – maybe J Howard gay Carr Debnam Iemma etc., in NSW parliament and others should stand beside the police in these riots – we may then see immediate responses to the electorates voice, and I do not mean Parliament being recalled (how much did that cost?) when absolutely forced into a corner – legislation and planning should have been in place years ago before this all got to this stage. I was amazed of recent times how quickly Legislation can be shoved through when pollies want to do so (I have noted your comments Andrew and thank you for your site enabling easy access to parliamentary info), change the tax breaks for producing children encourage top people to work in Australia. No, some serious thinking needs to be done about this problem.

Why do professional people who have migrated here tell me that they were put through the hoops to get into the country – everything was examined before they and their professional qualifications were allowed to enter Australia-they have contributed from day one, they question why Australia is letting the types of people to enter as immigrants into Australia over the last ? years , and some have expressed why they indeed came here and why many immigrants of doubtable standards and morals are let into Australia.

I am 60 years young today and I was right in encouraging my sons to get out of Australia as I predicted 25 years ago that it would be a downhill run for a while in Australia – why is it that many of our bright people leave Australia not because they want to but….my sons have children – their partners who are both from other Countries / cultures. I have been house Mum to many different students from other cultures and countries and have thoroughly enjoyed this time.

Hopefully I can , emmigrate from Australia as it has become a materialistic, pompous little country run by self seeking power hungry opportunisitic individuals who have an unjustified high opinion of themselves, who make many problems then swan off – usually getting employment with a large corporation – Carr is not the first pollie to do so leaving the mess for others to sort out. The Australian population is still a sensible hard working individual who have a unique humourous approach to life – lets keep it that way. You can give people a Fair Go but some do not even begin to know the meaning of this term and abuse that lovely Fair Go for their own ends – we would withdraw that support from a selfish Australian but we are forced by isolated governments to keep on giving and being abused.

Beats me why the Malaysians are saying we are not part of Asia. Australia, particularly Sydney is full of Asian people. I have been told by one of the This is not the country that the forbears worked to improve for their children and the betterment of all, nor my father volunteer for 6 years duty in WW11 and he refused a part pension for war injuries saying that “the country must get on its feet” he never claimed anything from Australia and he started work at 13years to help his own family, he provided his own Superannuation in a time when this was a novelty, he also did much voluntary work in his community and supported his 2 unmarried sisters in the old family home.

Can you imagine anyone saying no to a handout from the Government these days? Thank god he has not seen the day when welfare is handed out willy nilly and allsorts swagger around this country taking for granted what others denied themselves so as to contribute to a better community.

Don’t politician learn from others mistakes? look at the Netherlands France etc., even Georges’ US of A and the never ending problems with the hispanics and Afro/American community – look at the problems the Italians took to USA – Mafia caused (drugs), – lets really start using initiative and how about a referendum re immigration but please don’t let J Howard esq near the formation of this after his handling of the Republic referendum.

Years ago , Australia was a peaceful country / communities were cohesive, but sadly due to the politicians and their never – ending short term measures, in this case the “solution” of migration have upset that and shall continue to do so, no matter how many police are employed .

Why such ignorance on a matter that has been shown time and time again in many other countries over many, many years to be a never-ending problem, a matter that is ignored by beauracrats and politicians or who blame anything but the root cause.

The Australian intelligence is insulted when we are told by pathetic radio and television advertising that we are multicultural and its all such a wonderful success.

Dec 18th, 2005
via collins

G’day Andrew,

Nice work on the Cronulla story. Taking 3 considered shots at it is a bloody intelligent way of going about it, excellent example of advantages of blogging versus trad media.

One writer who I’ve yet to see quoted in the usual places is Barney Schwartz from The Age last Thursday. Paraphrasing, he spoke of the use of a “victim” position on all sides of this, and many contemporary debates. No matter the composition of the sides, they write/orate from the position of the victim.

Growing up in Australia during the “triumphalist” years, it’s been a curious difference in the last decade where football matches, even federal elections, are fought between “underdogs”, captains & leaders both bashfully looking downwards, stating their humble aspirations, and faith in their team/public.

It’s definitely a post-Keating tic in Australia’s public character I reckon. But back to the “victim” role. As a Melbournian, I’ve always found Sydney a different place entirely. Never quite understood how a civilized city could sustain the irrational, vitrilioc talkback radio that pours out of taxi speakers. It’s through second hand radio I first learnt of the “battlers”, or “honest Australians” being undone by aliens, or elites.

Your favourite on-line stalker is a past master at the “victim” position, whatever the tale du jour, he will find himself somehow victimised by women, or Fairfax. There’s always an aggressor, and he himself is always struggling amidst the ocean of university educated elites to maintain the fight for the common person that he characterises himself as.

Unfortunately for he, and his viewpoint, I live in an Australian city where the cultural blend is so ingrained, there’s no going back. Melbourne has been ghettoized time and time again, and has survived in peace. And no matter what piffling tales are tossed up by the shabby press, it will continue to do so. I agree with most, Australia is far from a racist country. I hear the most vile, gutter mouthed racial abuse heaped at aboriginal footballers when I go see AFL, but it does not follow that I live in a racist city. All cities harbour racists. But not all cities harbour media mouthpieces that will encourage divisons, and victimisation.

And if Cronulla’s flashpoint achieves nothing else, it is certainly driving a healthy discussion on multicultural Australia. And unlike some debates through the Howard era, the right are completely wrong-footed. Honestly, when you’re sending David Flint out to bat, the dressing room must be a morgue!

Dec 18th, 2005
melloncramps

“a very important Policy that the population have NEVER been asked to vote for or against”

Not true. Remember that red-haired bird with the annoying voice?

Dec 19th, 2005
O Ekdikitis

I feel like I’ve just re-read Hanson’s maiden speech.

Dec 19th, 2005
Dee

Melloncramps & O Ekdikitis,

Read your History books – there has NEVER been a referendum re Immigration in Australia.

Get out into the real world & mix, hopefully you may learn about what is happening, reading newspapers and watching TV is not what the majority of the population are thinking!

Live Overseas and you shall/maybe?? realize how crass & ignorant you are.

Dec 19th, 2005
Paul Arrighi

Dee, what the majority of the population is thinking is irrelevant. Democracy only concerns itself with the swinging voters, they are the difference between being the government or being the opposition in a 2 party preferred system. To quote Winston Churchill, “politicians only think of the next election, statesman think of the next generation”. Regretably there are no statesman in Australia.

Dec 19th, 2005
via collins

The text following is lifted from Roger Ebert’s Ten Best Films of 2005 list. He is discussing the very fine film, “Crash”. As I read the words (with which I agree – it’s a terrificly humane film), they all rang true to the Australian commentary of the last week:

“Much of the world’s misery is caused by conflicts of race and religion. Paul Haggis’ film, written with Robert Moresco, uses interlocking stories to show we are in the same boat, that prejudice flows freely from one ethnic group to another. His stories are a series of contradictions in which the same people can be sinned against or sinning. There was once a simple morality formula in America in which white society was racist and blacks were victims, but that model is long obsolete. Now many more players have entered the game: Latinos, Asians, Muslims, and those defined by sexual orientation, income, education or appearance.”

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051218/COMMENTARY/512180302

Dec 19th, 2005
Tmesis

Wow Dee, there’s a lot of information there…I would like to suggest that maybe there is a generational aspect to this debate. I think it might be possible that the idea of multiculturalism working well would be pretty hard to swallow for some in the older generations considering they grew up in an era riding the tail wind of some pretty crazy immigration policy?
I’m 24 years young, and for the large part my experience of multiculturalism in the sense of the word – “integration of diverse cultural groups into a cohesive community and national identity that transcends race/ethnicity” has been positive. This is my opinion and my experience, but I feel I have been lucky enough to live in a time when the experience of being Australian has become wonderfully diverse, the exchange of various cultures has added to a rich tapestry that has made up my australian identity. You may say I am too young to remember the good ol days, and I am. But I don’t care for them much, if they were about fiercely holding onto Australia by keeping others out. Being Australian for me has become about embracing, exploring and respecting difference in my every day life. I feel a well-nourished person due to this.

Mr Bartlett, this is a fantastic blog. Keep up the good work. And I agree with your point that perhaps Australians need a more cohesive definition of racism and multiculturalism in order for us to progress in this debate. We need to figure this issue out and I would like to see a national debate on racism and multiculturalism with all sides expressed and articulated but without a cohesive understanding of the terms to be used we could get lost.

I would also like to take you up on the point about free speech being a bedrock of democracy. I agree with you to an extent, however I would argue that free speech is actually representative of democracy, but cannot always be a condition of it.

I am concerned that sometimes the adamant protection of the concept of free speech can be at the cost of protecting certain groups from the harm speech can cause. (I.E Allowing neo-nazi and white supremist opinion to be in public dicourse on the premise of protecting the right to freedom of expression.) I think we need to realise that speech can be just as harmful as action, and should therefore be regulated in the same ways. This is perhaps another issue entirely, but I think it links to an important part of this debate. Stanley Fish discusses this idea further:

http://www.mv.helsinki.fi/home/kniemela/fish.htm

It was just a thought that sprung into my head over the last week.

Thanks again for a great forum everyone!

Dec 19th, 2005
Ken

Dont know who Stanley Fish is but I do know that one’s most dangerous opponent / enemy is the one you can’t see. Distasteful as it may be its better to let all morons have air time and let their arguments stand or fail than be blocked (becasue the prevailing group- who gives anyone the mortage on rightness anyway) might not agree. Free speech as long as I agree with you is not free speech at all.

Dec 19th, 2005
Andrew Bartlett

It is true that there has never been a referendum on immigration in Australia, although it has certainly been a key issue at many election campaigns. However, it is also true that there has never been a referendum on 99.9% of all public policy issues, so I’m not sure why immigration should be any different.

Some histories I have read suggest that immigration was a key driver behind Australia becoming a Federation in 1901 – the view being that people of ‘undesirable’ colour could be more easily kept out if the states came together as one country.

The issue of immigration – and Asian immigration in particular – is one of the best examples of the skill/cunning/dupicity of John Howard. He harvested huge amounts of the Pauline Hanson vote by appearing tough on migration, including soft pedalling on her widely publicised comments that ‘Australia is being swamped by Asians’, yet over the same time he has dramatically increased immigration numbers, especially if you count the phenomenal increase in temporary residency visas being issued – huge numbers of which are for people from South-East Asia.

Our immigration system is still discriminatory in many ways of course, but people who have sizeable amounts of money are almost always allowed in, regardless of nationality. I guess money is the universal language, so maybe the government can suggest that letting anybody buy their way into Australia is an example of true multiculturalism.

Dec 19th, 2005
Evil Pundit

Poor old John Howard can’t win a trick. Even when you admit that his immigration policy is open to people of any race, you still have a go at him for preferring immigrants who are able and willing to support themselves.

Pauline Hanson’s supporters are of course well aware of this. But they continue to prefer Howard, simply because unlike the preceding Labor government, he allows public discussion of immigration policy instead of shouting down any dissent as “racism”.

I’m hoping that Howard will go further, and overturn the fsacist anti-vilification laws that were introduced to curb free speech.

Dec 19th, 2005
Andrew Bartlett

EP

There are many aspects of our country’s immigration policy I quite like, but there are also some aspects that are simply draconian.

My objection is not so much that people are basically able to buy a visa, but that this policy operates within a system which discriminates on the basis of age, nationality, sexuality, gender, marital status and disability. One can even make a case for some of these discriminations (although not many of them in my view), but (a) we should not pretend it is non-discriminatory when it so clearly is, and (b) if you are going to discriminate on any of these grounds – rightly or wrongly – then people shouldn’t be able to ‘jump the queue’ (to use one of John Howard’s misleading migration phrases in an accurate way for a change) just because they have lots of money.

Automatically shouting down dissent regardless of its content – whether by shouting ‘racism’ or something else – is counter-productive if you support democracy. However, John Howard has just replaced one political correctness with another, so one gets shouted down for using the word ‘racism’, even when it is being used accurately.

Dec 19th, 2005
Peter

It’s interesting that the UALM see nothing racist about the recent violence and their comments are fairly directed at the small minority of Lebanse Muslim youths who stand around shopping centres and beaches insulting and abusing our wives/sisters/girlfriends.

However the massive cringe factor amongst the pixies at the bottom of the garden mean you contine to shout racist, racist, racist. No wonder the PM won’t use such a devalued term. Everything is racist as long as it comes from white anglo-saxon Australians. Lebanese Australians who appear misogynist and sexually retarded are evidently not being racist with their hatred of Australia culture. For people who are strongly pro-womens rights as I am, you are strangely silent on this issue. Perhaps when you are personally exposed to it you might reconsider.

Meanwhile you are damaging our society with your constant childish mantra of ‘racist, racist, racist’.

Andrew Bartlett, you are a absolute disgrace. Thankfully, you will never hold an executive position in an Australian government.

Dec 19th, 2005
melloncramps

Dee – you’re absolutely right, there has never been a REFERENDUM on immigration in Australia.

However, given that the last federal election had a voter turnout of 94.32%, and given that the only party(that i know of) to oppose the current immigration policy(One Nation) captured only 1.19% of first preference votes, I’d say a referendum is hardly necessary. Wouldn’t you?

You also made some assumptions about my life experience/travel habits ect… I don’t need to respond to these, but they did give me a chuckle, so thanks.

Dec 20th, 2005
Ken

Thats a bit tough Peter – while I don’t often agree with Anderw and would be hardly likely to vote democrat or anything near there – the fact that he has this blog and actually communicates with ordinary people is certainyl a position to be admired. I know plenty of pollies, having worked for some pretty well known ones in the past, and most don’t talk to anyone accept there own kind or their party faithful – I accept the faithful are thin on the ground for the dems – but I bet Senator Bartlett never had a long conversation with a Dee before this blog

Dec 20th, 2005
Scott Wickstein

Peter’s remarks are undoubtedly over the top, but the fact that Senator Bartlett has NOTHING to say about the long standing problems in the NSW police and law enforcement double standards suggests that he’s not got a lot to actually contribute to this debate. In fact I would go so far to suggest that he’s part of the problem not part of the solution.

Dec 20th, 2005
Justbemused

It’s not just an Australian debate. Good piece from Salman Rushdie about the British situation.

Key Paragraph:

This is the question of our time: how does a fractured community of multiple cultures decide what values it must share in order to cohere, and how can it insist on those values even when they clash with some citizens’ traditions and beliefs?

—

Now, this is something of a meta-debate and it won’t solve problems like Cronulla, and the aftermath of December 11 (I’ll agree with Scott above, Tim Priest and others who suggest it’s a policing problem). But it’s undeniable that the broader picture is multiculturalism (personally I like Rushdie’s “multi-faceted culture” better) and the two competing discourses; John Howard is evil and Australia is racist vs Muslim/Arabic culture is incompatible with Australian values.

Dec 20th, 2005
FRED STEEN

Interesting to see Paul Kelly (Australian 21/12)blur multicultural policy and settlement policy.

I think what has really went wrong is the settlement process for Lebanese Muslim quasi refugees who came after 1975 from villages destroyed and their country in civil war. Relatives and friends in Aus sponsored them – sometimes creating years of financial indebtedness. Settlement services were totally inadequate and the conditions in schools in the western subirbs and the quality of education available to children traumatised by war and migration was simply not good enough.

I believe those families had it really tough. Unskilled, uneducated (not their fault)shift work in Sydney’s factories undermined home life. Latch key kids unsupervised, with TV as the child minder.

If you don’t help people settle in, or give them access to equal opportunities in life, economic and social disadvantage follows, with feelings of resentment and hate.

Are we doing any better today with settlement services for refugees from African refugee camps ? or wives and children of Iraqis and Afghan refugees who were not allowed to join their refugee husbands/Dads for 3 to 6 years while they were on temporary visas?
Fred

Dec 21st, 2005
Stuart Fenech

Justbemused -> The question is, rather, how long will it take for any group of people to find something to divide them, thus leading to conflict and fighting? It does not matter whether the division is by geography (“westies!” – Conulla in the 60′s), religion, culture, political beliefs, etc. People naturally divide and fight. The ‘reasons’ are just excuses. People can choose to be sucked into perpetual conflict based on rudimentary distinctions or strive for something better.

Dec 21st, 2005
Geoff

Firstly… the conflict at Cronulla started years ago Andrew. In fact bad behaviour from this particular ethnic group is fairly widespread in Sydney. Has been since the 70′s.

To blame the media for beating up the problem is to be either in denial of the problem or totally naive about it. Unless of course you are talking about the Left-wing media who have it completely a-about.

As for Multiculturalism… well it’s probably about time that was put to the people. but we all know it never was and never will be… both Fraser and Hawke have refused to do so in the past.

As has been pointed out… most don’t know what it really is. I include you in this too Andrew. The defn has changed at least 3 times since it was brought in. Continuous tinkering to try and make it more palatable to the wider population.

I suggest you educate yourself on it by reading Mark Lopez’s book on it Andrew.

It is not about assimilation nor is it about integration. If it was about Integration, it would be called INTEGRATION.

These louts at Cronulla that started all the trouble do not consider themselves Australian Andrew. The gang rapists did not consider themselves Australian Andrew. If you knew these people; lived near or worked with them as I do Andrew… you’d know this. They consider themselves Lebanese… living in Australia… that’s the reality of Multiculturalism.

Jan 17th, 2006
Andrew Bartlett

Goeff, if there are actually Australian citizens who consider themselves to be Lebanese living in Australia, rather than to be Australians, I can’t see what that has to do with multiculturalism.

It sounds more like a consequence of segregation to me, which is an inevitable outcome of an assimilationist policy – especially in an era of high migration to our country, which we have been and will continue to be in for some time.

Jan 17th, 2006
Geoff

Please try to get the name right.

Well that’s a cop out isn’t it.
Do you wear blinkers and ear-muffs at all times?
These people largely came here in the 70s Andrew, do you know their history? We were into Multiculturalism then. So don’t blame other past policies for the problem.

Address reality. Mutliculturalism is not Assimilation… Is NOT Integration. It requires none of the above. That’s the problem and that’s why you get enclaves/segregation. You are getting cultural diversity Andrew. That’s how it works.

Jan 17th, 2006
Andrew Bartlett

Geoff (apologies for the typo)
you’re half right – multiculturalism is not assimilation, it’s the antithesis of it. But as far as I’m concerned and from what I’ve seen for many years, integration is a key goal of multiculturalism.

Any attempt at assimilation or a monoculture with anything above small levels of migration has no hope of working, and thus leads to segregation – in effect it’s two sides of the same coin as far as I’m concerned.

I can’t see how anyone could support a sizeable migration program without accepting the need for a policy of multiculturalism of some sort.

Jan 17th, 2006
Geoff

Half right eh… well sooner or later you’ll come around to accept the other half.

Australia had an assimilationist policy under the Whie Australia Policy. Holt put an end to that. Then we had Integration. Whitlam, then Fraser put an end to that… Since then we’ve had multiculti.

Immigration numbers aside… I don’t think we should be looking at a large migrant intake. Sydney can’t cope with it for starters.

Now back to “M” 101. Integration or the expedition of it was the claim some multiculturalists made in an effort to get the thing accepted by government. Except it isn’t in any of it’s forms about Integration. Unless you consider integrating numerous cultures on a set landmass Integration.

As I said… Australia over the past half century has seen changes in public policy from the White Australia Policy to a so-called “non-discriminatory” immigration policy, with the parallel transition from assimilation to integration and then to multiculturalism.

Assimilation

The policy of assimilation spans the period up to the mid 1960s and was based on a belief in the benefits of homogeneity and a vision of Australia as a racially pure “white” nation.

The policy effectively excluded non-European immigration. The preference over most of this period was for British migrants.

However, as Australia’s demand for migrants grew beyond the supply from Britain, other Europeans were accepted on the understanding that they would shed their cultures and languages and be assimilated into the host population so that they would rapidly become indistinguishable from it.

During this period existing social structures, such as welfare, education, labour market and legal institutions, were not adapted to meet the needs of newly arriving migrants.

From 1947, however, migrants were taught English at public expense, under the Adult Migrant Education (now English) Program, and the Immigration Department employed professional social workers from the 1950s until the 1980s.

The policy of assimilation also dominated the treatment of our indigenous population, the forceful adoption of indigenous children into white Australian families being just one example of assimilationist thinking.

Integration

The policy of integration was a change from the policy of assimilation, which implies almost total absorption into another linguistic and cultural group – an assimilated individual gives up his or her cultural identity.

Integration, in the broad sense, did not imply minority cultures giving way totally to a dominant culture.

Instead, their influence on the dominant culture was to be accepted to a degree. Integration, however, did not encourage ongoing cultural diversity, where every migrant continued his way of life only in Australia. Everyone was expected to adopt the integrated culture.

Multiculturalism.

By 1973, the term ‘multiculturalism’ had been introduced.

The term originated in Canada, where it referred to the 1971 Trudeau Government’s official programs of cultural maintenance.

The work of Jerzy Zubrzycki at the Australian National University and Jean Martin at La Trobe University was particularly significant in this early period.

The influence of Sir Peter Heydon, then Secretary of the Department of Immigration, was also crucial to the early evolution of multiculturalism.

In May 1973 Immigration Minister Al Grassby embraced cultural diversity, saying:

First, we must strengthen and develop the things which unite us as a community and as a nation.

We must also identify, isolate and overcome those things which could divide us. This in no sense involves abandonment of the past.

Rather we should seek to share our different heritages … We have been a nation of exiles in our own land – all of us – for too long. It is time for the people of Australia to come home in a spiritual sense, to feel truly that we belong to this land, to see it as a heritage to be preserved and enhanced.

It is my hope and purpose to see a strong and united Australian nation, a nation drawing upon the rich diversity of its people and its own unique resources to create a new sense of national unity and purpose.

This is the time for decisive action. This is the decade in which we must make effective the concept of a family of the nation strong in its diversity.

In October 1975 the then Prime Minister, Gough Whitlam, and Leader of the Opposition, Malcolm Fraser, made speeches demonstrating for the first time that multiculturalism was becoming a major political priority on both sides of politics.

In August 1977, the first formal public policy of Australian multiculturalism was defined in the Australia as a Multicultural Society report by the Australian Ethnic Affairs Council (Chairman: J Zubrzycki – see Appendix C for further details).

There are many aspects of the Australian way of life that newcomers are required to accept.

These include the law, our democratic form of government, and English as the national language.

But, equally, Australian multiculturalism recognises that many migrants and their children will choose to retain many of their customs and cultural traditions, some of which will be adopted by other Australians.

In other words, the inclusion and participation of migrants and their descendants in Australian life occurs naturally and, within the bounds of our democratic and legal framework, the individual whether migrant or Australian-born must be free to choose which customs to retain and which to adopt.

Unfortunately those living at the coal-face of multicultuiralism find the reality quite different from the theory.

The following excerpt from a speech made in February 1971 by the then Immigration Minister, Phillip Lynch.

While he maintained a substantially integrationist position speaking out against ‘undigested minorities’, he also rejected ‘mindless uniformity’ and advocated measures ‘to preserve and strengthen the cultural heritage of newcomers’.

All our immigration and social policies are for our own decision in the light of our aims and response to our needs – as we assess them. They are now clearly and firmly based on the belief that all Australians want Australia to be an essentially cohesive society notable for political democracy, for the rule of law, for economic opportunity and social mobility, without self-perpetuating enclaves and undigested minorities.

By undigested minorities I mean substantial groups of ethnic origin very different from the host community; proud of that difference and determined to perpetuate it; seeking to discourage inter-marriage; desiring to have separate political representation; and ready to dispute the efforts of the national government to encourage integration.

At the same time I am not advocating mindless uniformity. No one wishes every Australian to conform to an identical pattern of life or culture. Most of us welcome variety in our developing national identity. The English language should be a common link used in primary and secondary education throughout the country whether in State or independent schools. But measures must also be taken to preserve and strengthen the cultural heritage of newcomers so as to enrich and develop the sensitivity of the resulting new community.

The reality of Multiculturalism today (particularly in Sydney) is more about that which Lynch described as “undigested minorities”.

As for the rule of law recent events show how much concern there is for the rule of law. As a benchmark on the success of Multiculturalism, I’d have to say it’s a failed policy.

Jan 17th, 2006
Geoff

So Andrew have you had a chance to read the book yet?

Why don’t you scrap multiculturalism as a policy and introduce Integration?

Jan 20th, 2006
Sydneyrefugee

Multiculturalism policy is ok if you already have a multiculture. As an immigration policy it is doomed and stupid. Really does it take a degree to suggest to have a multiculture policy you actualy need a multiculture to begin with?

We don’t. We have a western culture. Most move here to experience that. So we have no multiculture. None. Even have stripped our only other contender of culture further of any power. (aboriginal).

In cultural policy you have

Assimilation
Integration
Multiculturalsim
Differentialism

Integration policy is what we had between assimilation and multiculturalism. Worked fine for me. Had all the benefits of immigration without all this “you are racsit” when anyone has any say in THEIR OWN cultural development.

No-one has ever told me the benefit of multiculutralism over integration. NOBOBY.

Meanwhile we have “multicultural” south western sydney full of $2 shops, ethnic crime, drugs and high rises. Such richness it has brought???????? Lovers of multiculturism realy flock to the area hey? Not really ha ha, more flee the area, forced from their homes to be honest.

Meanwhile with integration policy all we got was good resturants. Not bad policy if you ask me.

Jan 21st, 2006
Geoff

Hallelujah Sydneyref…

I asked the question of Andrew specifically for that purpose… so far he hasn’t got back to me. I guess he’s still reading Lopez’s book.

A hand full of elites and their cronies foisted multiculturalism on us… most migrants didn’t even want it.

Jan 21st, 2006
Wendy Lewthwaite

Dee you are right about many things but the old saying is you cant put old heads on young shoulders. They should be given a one two five year visa not PR right from the start. My Aunty owned a milbar at Cronulla and let me tell you its true to say that the lebs started this long ago like Bankstown and other places. All these do gooders that stopped us deporting this type years ago have stopped us standing up for our own rights.
When i called phillip Rudocks office years ago in regards to some of these people marrying in the Mosques despite already being married the both adviseres could not see a problem. They actually said oh well the Ausies have a wife and mistress so whats the difference?When i tried to explain there was a huge difference because they were thumbing their noses at our law and we would be goaled if we did like wise i was brushed off. Thats means we have kids that we dont really know who or where they come from and no real records.Even more scarey they didnt know it was common practise. I certainly have many muslim friends and conduct business with several and they agree we have some real problem people here as well. So i guess its the class that we have already shipped here that is our problem. Make no mistake they see it as much their country as it is ours.That is our fault. I am with Dee . The old school are basically pro Ausie and most of us would have to addmitt that we dont see them as equals. We see them as lucky to be here and if you cant behave go back home. Dee anytime you want to help with our campainge against our jobs being shipped out and the cruel live export trade let me know because you are! Australia as we see it. Good for you Dee.

Jan 21st, 2006
Wendy Lewthwaite

As we are talking about overeas and its effects on Australia > Now might be a good time to mention the enquiry into the Australian W Board and the millions going to T.
Andrew Kevin Rud has received a call from a Jorno as to why he has not mentioned the AWB prchased Westfarmers interests in live Exports in August 2002 and the funds going into what we now have an enquiry into.
I must say i am surprised you have not shouted it from the roof tops. All in all the Australian public have not been informed by anybody about much of this funding coming from live exports. Can you tell me why please?
I mean i understand the oppostion keeping quite because they have the feeding of the chooks]
For the benefit of your readers > The feeding of the chooks is a common term used for donation money to partys from persons with a veted interest in this barbaric trade. The Government get most but then we have the chooks. However i am at a loss as to why the Greens and or both your party Andrew have not infomred the public of this very important fact. Also it is untrue that the Government were taken by surprise because they were contacted back in 2002 bringing this concern to their attention. Of that i can assure everybody. Lets see what Rud has to say since nobody else is raising it.

Jan 21st, 2006
Sydneyrefugee

Andrew Bartlett wrote

As this comment said, “most of us catch ourselves out being racist in small ways from time to time”, and the potential to be racist is something which is present in virtually everybody. This is precisely why we have to be much stronger in asserting that it is not acceptable. For political and community leaders to pretend it’s not really there is just a subtle way of saying that it’s OK.

This is exactly the problem. Community leaders will not accept that their communities are are racist. The most racist people in Sydney are the Muslims. Until this is addressed and those calling racist racist actually apply the term equalyy then the term holds no merit and will not make people look into themselves.

Jan 22nd, 2006
Geoff

Good point Sydneyref…

There are 2 main problems with the overuse of the term “racist” in Australia.

One is that people don’t use it correctly, so just about any comment dealing with “race” is seen a racist… (thanks largely to the Left and their PC hangers on) and that the same people promote it as an exclusively “white” phenomenon… yet it is they who by and large speak in colours.

Jan 22nd, 2006
Wendy Lewthwaite

Dee Good Post. Good to know there are still some real Ausies around.
People like M are usaually lacking that magic link that makes them real Ausies. My god pull the place down M while speaking of the opera house. Are you kidding. Thats it isnt it. No respect or understaning of a national jewl. My god thats scarey. Then again you did tell us your background and you just are not an Ausie. You might live here but the heart for real Ausies isnt there M. Dont eat bangers and mash or 4 and twenty pies. You dont have to M. You make out we Australians dont care about others when we are THE most giving country in the world M. As an Ausie i resent that. You can read all the report books you like but nothing is fact unless you are there. Some of these people lie through their teeth. Its just the way the are. Its accepted because its only lieing tothe west which doesnt amount to much. If we are so horrible why then does everybody want to come here?

Feb 11th, 2006
Geoff

Well at least we still have Cronulla to discuss the Muslim situation….

Ah yes, the sweet smell of Multiculturalism; from the DT…

***
Still not one word

By RHETT WATSON Police Reporter

March 10, 2006

A MUSLIM leader has revealed that many parents of the youths involved in the Sydney reprisal attacks last December would be harbouring their children out of sheer embarrassment.

Police chaplain and Lakemba community leader Sheik Khalil Chami said many Middle Eastern parents, traditionally tough on their children, would be embarrassed to admit they had gone off the rails.

“It will be very hard to find someone who will not protect their son,” Sheik Chami said.

“I can see it in many people. They are too embarrassed to say their son is an outlaw They will hide it,” he said

There was also the fear of being the person who sent their son to jail, Sheik Chami said.

The Sheik’s theory has alarmed police who say the matters they are investigating are far from minor. Of the 67 people arrested by Strike Force Enoggera so far, about 25 were involved in the reprisal attacks.

“If you just stick to the serious assaults we’re investigating – there were about 14 incidents where people were set upon – then none of this is minor,” Detective Superintendent Ken McKay said.

“If they think these are minor then look out for the future. They hide away from us. Whether it’s ignorant bliss, I don’t know. It appears to be a cultural thing,” he said.

Police were also among those threatened on the night of December 11 as youths carrying weapons such as iron bars rampaged through suburban streets.

The attacks resulted in a total lockdown of not only Cronulla but all beach suburbs across Sydney over Christmas.

The original riot and reprisals managed to tear apart the communities from Cronulla to Lakemba, leaving social wounds.

There is still yet to be an arrest over the most highly publicised reprisal attack, that of Steve B in front of the Cronulla YHA, which was captured on CCTV footage (pictured, right) and broadcast on TV news bulletins and published in newspapers including The Daily Telegraph.

“While the picture quality was poor, it’s still the case that if you knew one of them you’d be able to identify them,” Supt McKay said.

“But we’ve had very few calls from the Middle Eastern community. There is going to be someone out there who heard the people preaching to the crowds before they all headed out to Cronulla,” he said.

The possibility of jail is distinct for some involved in the reprisal attacks considering the damage they wreaked.

The attacks were launched on the Sunday and Monday nights following the Cronulla riot where racist statements adorned bodies and shirts and the crowd lashed out at anyone of Middle Eastern appearance.

In response to the racist violence, young men of Middle Eastern surged into Cronulla, Maroubra and La Perouse, smashing cars, shops and bashing people.

As many as 50 cars were smashed in Maroubra on one night.

Police Commissioner Ken Moroney has renewed his pleas for the community to assist police and give up their own.

“I call on the Middle Eastern community to come forward with information and to join the general community’s condemnation of the criminal behaviour displayed during the riot and the subsequent reprisal attacks,” he told The Daily Telegraph.

***

Of course there are some that would call Ken Moroney a racist for making such a comment. How dare he discriminate… they’re probably still fulminating and frothing about it.

Mar 10th, 2006
Geoff

excerpts from another article…

***
As nine of the 20 white youths shamed by police yesterday over their roles in the riot were either caught or surrendered, the silence from Sydney’s Lebanese was denounced by police and politicians.

But Det Supt Ken McKay – the man running Strike Force Enoggera which is investigating the Cronulla riot and the reprisals – went further.

“The Middle Eastern community has to understand if they want to live in this society, the only way the police can operate is with community help,” he said. “If that doesn’t happen it will all turn to rubbish.”
***
Since the reprisal attacks in the days after the December 11 riot, police have received little or no information about them from the Middle Eastern community.

Yet within 24 hours of police releasing images of 20 of the Cronulla rioters, up to nine were identified as information streamed in.
***
Mr Scully echoed concerns a veil of secrecy had descended over the Arab community.

“Generally, when caucasians are put on the front pages they’re identified,” he said.

“When footage is presented of people of Middle Eastern background we get zip.”
***

Now some may call this reporting anti-Muslim or the work of a Muslim hater… etc, etc, etc :roll:
problem is it’s not , it’s just the truth.
Deal with it… don’t deny it, an vilify others in the process.

Mar 10th, 2006
Andrew Bartlett

The DT’s agenda in targetting individual groups to whip up community antagonism (and sell papers of course) doesn’t smell very sweet to me, although it’s nothing new.

Interesting to see parents being accused of covering for or protecting their children. It would never happen in any other families in the Australian communities I’m sure.

Of course, being publicly singled out and targetted by police and politicians seeking to play to the Sydney tabloid/shock-jock agenda is hardly going to make people feel more inclined to give themselves up, but that doesn’t seem to matter. We wouldn’t actually want to get the need for a constructive solution get in the way of the main game.

(and a reminder to try to aviod just posting long screeds from articles as comments)

Mar 10th, 2006
Jolanda

Oh I get it now Andrew. Its all a game. If somebody commits a crime and they are caught on camera and they wont own up and so their pictures etc are put in the papers/media then that is seen as singling out and targetting in your books.

Does the fact that they were caught on tape committing a crime mean nothing!

I am starting to see a clear picture here in that if it’s nothing new then there is nothing new so long as we continue with the same old same old.

How tiring.

Mar 10th, 2006
Andrew Bartlett

wow – that reinterpretation of my comment is so far removed from what I actually said that even Geoff wouldn’t have tried it.

No wonder politicians usually stick to saying things in as dry and meaningless a way as possible.

Mar 10th, 2006
Ken

Now Andrew…..be nice

Mar 10th, 2006
Jolanda

Okay Andrew, if my re-interpretation of your comment, as you put it, was so wrong. Why dont you explain to me what you mean in order to help me understand.

Mar 10th, 2006
Evil Pundit

The issue is the contrast between community responses.

When pictures of Anglo youths were publicised, 9 out of 20 were identified to the police within one day.

But the response from the Lebanese community in the same period has been nil.

Clearly, one of these communities is better for our society than the other.

Mar 10th, 2006
Jolanda

Evil. YOu would have to agree that there was a marked difference between the pictures that were posted in the papers of the Anglo youths as they were as clear as day than the video view produced of the Lebanese youth.

Do you really think that if the siutation was reversed the Anglo’s would have been running to the police station to dob themselves and each other in if their pictures were even slightly blurred.?

I dont understand how posting anybody who is wanted in connection for a crime can be called targeting or singling out.

Mar 10th, 2006
Evil Pundit

Jolanda, I think there would be people in both communities who know the identities of the offenders, regardless of the clarity of the pictures.

The fact appears to be that one community responded by turning in the guilty ones to justice, while the other didn’t.

Mar 10th, 2006
Anonymous

I just want to let you know what was recently said by a teacher in front of an entire class of students.

The teacher was referring to slang words in the Australian vocabulary and was describing the word bonzer. Here is the example that the teacher used to describe bonzer:

“Us Aussies are having a Bonzer of a time bashing Lebs at the beach!”.

The Lebanese students in the class felt very uncomfortable, were deeply hurt and offended. It wasn’t and isn’t the only inappropriate racist comment that this teacher has made but the students are too scared to complain or to voice their objections as they live in fear that they will be targeted, picked on and victimised if they speak out and that nobody will protect them or care because they are of Lebanese background.

There is so much fear, racism and hatred in society.

Mar 10th, 2006

Larvatus Prodeo - Dec 16th, 2005
wsacaucus.org - Dec 16th, 2005
The Bartlett Diaries » Seeking comments about comments - Dec 19th, 2005

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