Page 581 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 14 March 2007
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Al was appointed the first Commissioner for Community Relations, administering the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 that he championed while in parliament. He was recognised for his continued work in promoting peaceful coexistence through multiculturalism by being honoured with the Order of Australia in 1985 and the United Nations Peace Medal in 1986. From 2001 he was a founding director of the Multicultural Business Chamber of Australia. I ask members of the Assembly to name anyone else who has done so much for migrants in this country.
Although Mr Grassby had died by the time the Theo Notaras Multicultural Centre in London Circuit opened its doors, December 2005, he would have been proud to be associated with the concept and the reality that it has become today. The centre, which was named after another great pioneer of multiculturalism in the ACT, Mr Theo Notaras, was built in the vision of Mr Grassby.
The cost of the statue is just over $72,000, which was available because the multicultural centre came in under budget. There was no need for a specific budget allocation because it was regarded as an artwork associated with the building works. You do not get much for $72,000 in reopening schools, reopening libraries. What a stupid suggestion! That was a stupid suggestion.
Mr Pratt: You can bank it towards essential infrastructure.
MR HARGREAVES: That is an even more stupid suggestion. You guys are taking stupidity to great heights.
With more than 20 communities from varying backgrounds inhabiting the centre and dozens more visiting it on a daily basis, his dream and vision have been realised within the bricks and mortar of that very special building across Civic Square. A centre such as the Theo Notaras Multicultural Centre, the first of its kind in Australia, would not be possible without the pioneering work of Mr Grassby. Shouldn’t his contribution be recognised, rather than his reputation tarnished by such a targeted smear campaign by the very people, the Liberal Party, who were so sympathetic and so supportive of his life’s work at the time of his passing?
This decision has been public since August 2005, and only now have we heard the Liberal Party comment on the statue. We look forward to unveiling in the coming months this permanent tribute to multiculturalism in Australia. The statue is a symbol of multiculturalism in this country, who we are today and how we got here. At a time when multiculturalism is under attack in this country, it is important to remember that multiculturalism was not always the norm. It is not only a tool for educating today’s youth but also an important reminder not to take what we have for granted. I hope to see members of the ACT opposition at the unveiling, supporting multiculturalism in this country and formally recognising how far we have progressed in the last 30 years.
Mr Speaker, I do not particularly mind how much members of the opposition malign me, take my comments out of context and want to pour dirt on me from a great height, because they do that regularly, but I will not stand here and see these people furthering this smear campaign against Al Grassby’s good name. I will not countenance it. This man was a pioneer. This man put multiculturalism on the map in
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