Page 1806 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 8 June 2016
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As the shadow minister for multicultural affairs here, I see a genuine commitment by the people of this great city to welcome migrants and refugees, to be a genuine refugee welcome zone. This is a bipartisan area. Nationally, about 85 per cent of people surveyed agreed that cultural diversity is a good thing for Australia. We have benefited a lot from it; so do not come in here and start trying to create a division that does not exist or to fan the flames of a perceived difference between the parties that does not exist.
The federal government, through the Department of Social Services, will spend about $660 million on multicultural affairs, assisting migrants to settle in Australia through social cohesion programs, countering extremism and assisting young people at risk. Community cohesion does not happen by itself in Australia and a multicultural society did not happen by itself either. As a nation, we have found unity and prosperity in our diversity by working hard together and respecting our difference.
My mother experienced the name calling and the labelling but by her own hard work, she and her family forged their place here as Australians. What a disgrace to bring a divisive discussion in here for the purpose of fanning party political agendas and potentially inflaming such experiences of people in the suburbs of this city.
While our cultural diversity is a great source of social and economic strength, the contribution of migrants and their families spanning generations has helped create the Canberra and the Australia we enjoy today. Our success has been built through the efforts and commitment of millions of Australians unified for a prosperous future for everybody. So do not come in here lecturing us on opening up our borders when we have a bipartisan position, and we have had so for generations.
If you think we should open the borders, say so. If you think we should give less financial support to each individual, say so. If you think we should spend massively more, say so. But do not come in here with your Anglo-centric attack on this bipartisan area like you have any idea what it takes to settle into a completely new place.
We have heard in the last few months from former members of the Labor Party that even Aborigines are not welcome in the Labor Party as candidates on the whole. That statement was made by Mr House, who is now standing for us. Never mind about other types of refugees. Where are your multicultural members on your side? Very interesting, isn’t?
It takes a whole generation to settle new people in. When my grandfather was dying, he reverted to his original language. It was lucky for my family that I could speak Italian. When he did not even know he was not speaking to me in English, I could respond to him. I could say, “Nonno, non ti preoccupare. Ti voglio bene. Tutto a posto, Nonno.” I translate: “I love you very much. Do not worry. I love you. You will be okay. It will be okay.” We actually understand the depths of struggle that people go through in order to settle into this country. What a disgraceful debate.
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