ANDREW GILES MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR MULTICULTURAL AFFAIRS
SHADOW MINISTER FOR CITIES AND URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE
SHADOW MINISTER ASSISTING FOR IMMIGRATION AND CITIZENSHIP
MEMBER FOR SCULLIN
Under Scott Morrison, multiculturalism is being undermined and underfunded, including by the Minister for Multicultural Affairs, David Coleman.
David Coleman told SBS this week that Australia doesn't have a representational problem when it comes to our politics, in response to the establishment of Labor's Multicultural Caucus Committee.
Does he really think that our Parliament today reflects modern Australia?
Or that he alone knows what's best for all the diverse communities that make up our multiculturalism?
Labor believes every Australian is entitled to be heard in our politics - and is committed to working towards this goal, through listening to multicultural communities.
Whilst the Liberals in their arrogance refuse to listen, or to engage.
The Morrison Government's lack of respect for multicultural communities was no more evident than the failure of a single Minister to attend the Federation of Ethnic Communities' Councils of Australia's (FECCA) Conference in Hobart earlier this month.
This is far from an isolated incident. It builds on a litany of cuts to services, a series of proposals unfairly targeting migrant communities and a worrying tendency to use divisive rhetoric, especially regarding refugees and people seeking asylum.
Australia is the world's most successful multicultural society. But we can't take this for granted, and Labor certainly does not.
David Coleman should reflect on his comments, and reconsider them.
Valuing our diversity should be a bipartisan concern.
We all need to work together to enable all Australians to speak for themselves and to fully participate in our society.