(Transcript from World News Radio)
There's a fresh call for controversial Senator Cory Bernardi to face censure for his latest comments on multiculturalism.
The South Australian Liberal has reportedly criticised Prime Minister Tony Abbott's admission that he's become a fan of multiculturalism.
Karen Ashford reports,
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In an address to the National Press Club, Tony Abbott revealed he'd shifted from being a critic to a supporter of multiculturalism, because it eventually dawned on him that migrants were coming to Australia, not to change the country, but to join it.
Outspoken backbencher Cory Bernardi told Fairfax media he disagrees and regards multiculturalism as a social experiment which is having negative consequences.
The chairman of the Federation of Ethnic Communities Councils is Joe Caputo.
"Australian multiculturalism is not an experiment, it's a reality. It's a reality that we live in a very diverse community based on people who have come here from hundreds of different countries, and who bring with them different cultures and traditions and religions and faiths with them."
Senator Bernardi reportedly suggested that some migrants are seeking to replace Australian culture, or live parallel to it, labelling it divisive.
Joe Caputo thinks the Senator is out of touch with modern Australia.
"I'm amazed Senator Bernardi still comes out with these sorts of statements because it is offensive for the majority of Australians, not just people who come from a non-English speaking background, but the overall majority of Australians. As a matter of fact a survey conducted by the Monash University clearly stated that 84 per cent of the Australian population believes that multiculturalism is a great thing for this country."
The Opposition's citizenship and multiculturalism spokeswoman, Michelle Rowland, labels Senator Bernardi's views as "archaic" views
She says such views are putting the nation's reputation and development at risk, and the Senator should be disciplined.
"On the world stage Australia is continuing to seek to engage in our region in particular. We've already seen the Prime Minister go to India for example and Malaysia in only the last couple of weeks. You need to remember that these countries keep a close eye on Australia, we want to promote ourselves as an important trading partner, as an important partner in our region . And I think that this government would do well to counsel Senator Bernardi and say to him look, you comments, not only are they not based in reality, but they could very well end up having a negative impact on many other aspects of our community."
It was two years ago this month that Prime Minister Abbott forced Senator Bernardi to resign as his parliamentary secretary, for comments linking same-sex marriage to bestiality.
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