Migrants must abandon 'ideology of hate'

20 Sep 2012, 6:17 am   -   Source: AAP
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Billionaire Frank Lowy says migrants must agree to live by the values of Australian society. (AAP)

Billionaire Frank Lowy says migrants must agree to live by the values of Australian society. (AAP)

Billionaire businessman Frank Lowy says new arrivals must agree to live by the standards and values of Australian society.

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Billionaire businessman Frank Lowy says the response to the weekend's violent protests in Sydney proves Australia's multicultural society is both strong and mature.

But the Westfield chairman believes more must be done to ensure all Australians know that with the privilege of citizenship comes certain obligations.

Mr Lowy - who was born in Czechoslovakia and came to Australia in 1952 - on Wednesday night delivered the inaugural Australian Multicultural Council lecture in Canberra.

He praised the leadership of the Muslim community for speaking out against Saturday's demonstration.

"Our political leaders were united in their condemnation of the violence," the Westfield co-founder said.

"They made it clear that while Australia was a tolerant society there would be zero tolerance towards that kind of behaviour.

"Far from being an assault on multiculturalism, last weekend can be a sign of the strength and maturity of our multicultural society."

But Mr Lowy still believes there needs to be a greater focus on "civics education".

He isn't suggesting a return to the former Howard government's citizenship test which required migrants to know Don Bradman was the country's greatest cricketer.

"Far more useful would be a bedrock understanding of what it means to be a citizen," the businessman said.

"Newcomers should know that our liberal democracy provides impartial processes to air grievances and right wrongs.

"They should know there is a place for peaceful and lawful protest."

Mr Lowy said Australians welcomed newcomers who were free to worship and honour their heritage.

But new arrivals should in return agree to live by the standards and values of their adopted society.

They should also ensure their children "receive a broad and balanced education untainted by the ideology of hate".

Introducing Mr Lowy on Wednesday night, Prime Minister Julia Gillard said multiculturalism was a meeting place of rights and responsibilities.

"What we saw in Sydney on the weekend just past wasn't multiculturalism, it was extremism," Ms Gillard said.

The prime minister said the right to maintain one's customs had to be balanced by a responsibility to ensure "old hatreds are left behind".

"Any differences we hold are expressed peacefully."

Mr Lowy refused to "stumble into" a discussion of immigration policy and so-called boat people "even though I was a boat person myself".

"My personal story is not intended to be read in any way as a commentary on the contemporary challenges we face in dealing with illegal immigration," he said after telling the audience how he left Slovakia some 65 years ago.

He travelled from Prague to Marseilles and then onto a "rickety old boat" bound for Palestine.

After being intercepted by a British warship Mr Lowy was taken to an interment camp in Cyprus before, months later, he arrived ashore in Palestine.

After fighting for Israel he eventually made it to Sydney in 1952.

"To imagine a better life for you and your family and to make the leap of faith required to leave behind all that is familiar calls for a special kind of courage," Mr Lowy said.

"If we look at new arrivals to Australia from this perspective our capacity will be greater to welcome them warmly."

Speaking after Mr Lowy's lecture Opposition Leader Tony Abbott admitted he used to worry that multiculturalism could leave Australia "a nation of tribes".

"But I was wrong and I've changed my mind," he said.

"I am never more proud of our country than when migrants choose Australia.

"After all they have chosen this country in a way that the native-born never quite have."

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Your Comments

hmmmm

yo - from melb, 8 months ago

its people's right mate...! whether extremist or lost culture plus, you may also came from a different cultural background , cos there is no pure australian. or some specific australian culture, what i recon is australia is a multiculturalism.

Irreconcilable differences. It has been proven from history

Lim - from Sydney, 8 months ago

of irreconcilable differences of Christian way of life and the other extreme religion, again amplified on Saturday riot. Wide ranging excuses were given for it, as they were given in the past , and they will be given again in the future. We have to ask whether we want more of these extreme faith arrivals on our shores by any means, including unchecked boat arrivals, and cause more problems in the future and more the same excuses, superceding all others safety & interests? We want an end to it.

Adapt

A - from Brisbane, 8 months ago

People immigrate to Australia for a number of reasons, the life style, freedom etc. I enjoy multiculturalism, it opens doors for new experiences and better understanding of other cultures, keep your culture strong but leave the preaching and political fanaticism to the country you so happily discarded.

if only this was a perfect world!

cm - from sydney, 8 months ago

Great speech Lowy. Well said. What I don't like about multiculturalism. I hate seeing suburbs where you go and it feels/looks like your in another country.What I can never understand is why do people come here if they don't want to adopt our way of life. Why don't they stay where they are or go to a country that shares their beliefs and way of life. I think Western Society is not for all and some shouldn't come here. I don't want to adopt their way of life. I think extremist should leave.

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