The case for multiculturalism

Maria Vamvakinou MP, Jakarta

Since the tragedy of the London bombings, many of the commentators debating the pros and cons of Australia's policy of multiculturalism have simply ignored reality.

Critics focus their attacks on the Muslim community, yet at the same time, they often commend Australia's post war immigration policy. This is ironic given that many post war immigrants were treated with equal suspicion, my family included.

I most certainly remember the taunts, and the criticisms aimed at those labeled "dagos" and "wogs", and the allegations that they were invading our country, taking our jobs, eyeing our women, eating strange food, speaking unintelligible foreign languages, and not mixing in with the rest of us.

I am a child of post war immigration, and like many other immigrants, a success story. But it wasn't easy for us. We have not forgotten those critics who lurked in our neighborhoods, our workplaces, and our schools, telling us to go back home. We grew up to be good Australians nevertheless. Our parents integrated and made a contribution, we are bi-lingual, often multi-lingual, and have used our talents, and the gifts we brought with us, to participate in creating a vibrant, rich and successful society -- a multicultural society of tolerance, loyalty, respect and pride in ourselves and Australia.

The current critics of multiculturalism base their arguments on false premises. They argue that multiculturalism inhibits integration, creates ghettos of immigrants, and is - in the current security climate - a threat to Australian society. Their solution is to call for the immediate abandonment of the policy of multiculturalism and for Muslims to assimilate immediately.

Such a view ignores the basic fact that Australia's post-war immigration policy has been a success; a success which has largely taken place within the context of multiculturalism. So why should things be any different now for our newer immigrant communities? Could it be that some amongst us have already decided that Muslims, no matter who they are or where they come from, are an anathema and danger to the community they live amongst? And if so, on what do we base this conclusion?

Many commentators have now said that Australia faces an increased terrorist threat as a result of the war in Iraq. Indeed many Australians, who are not Muslim, believe that we have no business being in Iraq and that we were lied to and seriously misled to the point where we have now become terrorist targets. Do we conclude that they too pose a danger and a threat to our national security? The fact that Iraq and the war on terror has become a contested issue in the wider community has nothing to do with multiculturalism.

The critics of multiculturalism seem to have a very narrow view of what it means to be Australian and no idea how Australia's multicultural image has a positive impact internationally and can actually aid our national security -- our current close cooperation with Indonesia is a perfect example. As a result they are unable to appreciate the true value of multiculturalism.

They look to current international events to legitimize the attacks on the Muslim community and to call for the end of multiculturalism; however they fail to mention the many benefits that flow from our policy of multiculturalism. Benefits such as economic and social development which foster harmony, diversity and international strength, and the many other benefits naturally derived from a society whose relations are based on tolerance and respect. Even John Howard, who once famously said that Australia was in danger of being taken over by Asians, has back-tracked on immigration and now regrets his statement.

History shows us that in time, immigrant communities will integrate into the broader Australian community through education, civic participation and business links. As an Australian MP of Greek background I am proof of that. In my electorate, I am proud to represent many Australians of Muslim faith, who are in turn producing their own success stories as they become part of the wider fabric of Australian society.

The type of wedge politics that the critics of multiculturalism are now using may in fact cause defensiveness amongst those of Muslim faith, and therefore resistance to the integration process. For the sake of our children's future it is imperative that we maintain the balance that has made Australia the successful multicultural society that it is today.

The writer is the Federal Member for Calwell and was recently in Indonesia on a parliamentary delegation involving Australian MPs and Indonesian MPs