When Concetta Fierravanti-Wells was first made a parliamentary secretary the senator was astounded by a question about her financial interests and Italian heritage.
And the assistant minister for multicultural affairs says the reality is that "prejudices and racial stereotyping still prevail" in public life.
Speaking at the National Press Club in Canberra on Wednesday, Senator Fierravanti-Wells recalled the issue was "highlighted very forcibly" when she first became a parliamentary secretary in 2013, and was required to provide a declaration of interest to then prime minister Tony Abbott.
"I duly noted that John (her husband) and I had a house in Umbria," she said, in reference to the region in central Italy.
"A person assisting then Prime Minister Abbott on transition matters was not satisfied with this and sought clarification of our interests.
"When I asked him why, his response - though said in jest - astounded me: `We want to make sure it was not through ill-gotten Mafia gains'.
"Of course I smiled, and took it on the chin. I duly provided the clarification sought (and) even though Mafia jokes about Italians may be said in jest, it still hurts to hear them."
The Liberal senator from NSW is proud of her Italian heritage.
But she says that while cultural diversity is spoken about, it's not reflected in public institutions.
Of the 136,000 people employed in the public service, less than 20,000 or about 14 per cent come from a non-English speaking background, she said.
In the senior executive service, only 138 out of 1918 are from non-English speaking background.
"Notwithstanding that almost half of us were born overseas or have at least one parent who was, our parliament, our governments and public institutions do not reflect the cultural diversity that is today contemporary mainstream Australia.
"I fear it will be a long time before they actually will."
Senator Fierravanti-Wells said she had never advocated quotas for women in parliament "and I certainly wouldn't advocate a cultural diversity quota".
But she says it must be and will be recognised that culturally and linguistically diverse people are part of contemporary Australia.
"Let's not just park them over there."
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