Page 1021 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 25 February 2009
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It is unfortunate that we saw things degenerate in that way from Mr Hargreaves; that he could not just have a reasoned debate about these issues. Is he really saying that anyone who raises these issues is somehow not entitled to? Is Mr Doszpot not entitled to raise these issues? We know that many in the community share these concerns so it is legitimate that we air these concerns here—and the rant that we saw from Mr Hargreaves does not do him credit. It does not do him credit as minister, it does not do him credit as a parliamentarian and it certainly does not do this place any credit.
We are very committed to a functioning multicultural society. I believe that the ACT is one of the finest examples. Canberra is one of the finest examples in the world of a harmonious community that brings together people from all different cultures. We do not have ghettos in Canberra. We do not have ethnic and sectarian divisions. We have a lot going for us, a lot to celebrate, and that is what this motion does. The Multicultural Festival does that and we are right behind it. That is why we said we would get behind it with more support during the election campaign. It is something we are committed to. It is something we will continue to be committed to.
The sort of ludicrous rants that we have heard from the minister do not help matters, and politicising it in that way does not help things. We will have legitimate points of difference and I absolutely support Mr Doszpot’s ability to express that without this hysterical vilification that we have seen from Mr Hargreaves. It is unseemly. It is something that I am sure his Chief Minister would be quite embarrassed about, as he was embarrassed about this project in the first place.
Getting back briefly to the motion, it is a motion that certainly has a lot of merit. We certainly believe in multiculturalism. We are very committed to that. We are committed to the diversity of our city and we will continue to support that here in Canberra. It is something all Canberrans can be proud of—the contribution by people who have come here from other countries to make their home in Australia and particularly have chosen Canberra. They have helped to build Canberra into the wonderful city that it is today. They have contributed so much. And, of course, they have received a lot from a wonderful nation, it must be said. So we support the motion. We wholeheartedly support the Multicultural Festival and we look forward to it being a great success for many years to come.
MS BRESNAN (Brindabella) (4.48): I thank Ms Burch for bringing forward this motion today. Multiculturalism is about celebrating, maintaining, cultural diversity and promoting social inclusion. In Canberra the National Multicultural Festival endeavours to encapsulate these ideals and it has successfully done so for many years. The Greens will be supporting Ms Burch’s motion.
I agree with Mr Hargreaves’s statement yesterday that the festival is a vehicle for enhancing and promoting harmony and social inclusion and that the Multicultural Festival has a significant and highly positive impact on the multicultural and broader community in Canberra. That is something the Greens are very supportive of.
The meaning of multiculturalism has changed enormously for many people in Australia, in particular the migrant community. The festival continues to be a great
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