The Coalition Government is onto its third assistant minister for multiculturalism in as many years, however, is still to come up with a multiculturalism policy of its own.
For more than three years, and through two prime ministers, the Department of Social Services has displayed the previous Labor government’s multicultural policy, unedited, with a foreword by former Prime Minister Julia Gillard.
Malcolm Turnbull’s newly appointed Assistant Minister for Multiculturalism, Zed Seselja, is the latest promising to tackle the issue.
“It’s certainly been brought to my attention and obviously I will be looking at a range of things,” the Assistant Minister said.
The opposition has repeatedly used Senate Estimates to quiz the government department officials on why it is taking so long create a new policy.
“It's difficult for me being so new in the portfolio to say why but certainly it's something that has been brought to my attention,” Senator Seselja said.
Answering questions in Senate Estimates back in 2014, the Department of Social Services said the government was "in the process" of developing an updated multicultural affairs policy.
“It's on my radar and I will be looking at it very closely,” Senator Seselja said.
In February, then-Assistant Minister for Multiculturalism, Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, also faced questions about when a Coalition policy would be written.
“We don’t want to rush the process so we will be taking our time,” Senator Fierravanti-Wells said.
The Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia said multicultural issues should be at the core of all government policies and programs.
“Targeted policies are necessary to address the specific needs of Australia’s culturally and linguistically diverse population, foster social inclusion and to continue attracting migrants,” Acting Chairperson Eugenia Grammatikakis said.
'Respectful debate'
Senator Seselja has weighed in on Australians worried about terrorism and what he calls "Islamic extremism" and said they have a right to be heard, however, insists there must be a respectful conversation.
“If people are expressing how they feel it's not for me to tell them not to feel that way," he said.
“We need to make sure that it's a respectful debate. We shouldn't silence people even if we disagree with them."
The senator is the son of Croatian migrants and says, at its best, multiculturalism means people becoming part of Australia while honouring your heritage, not forgetting where you came from.
"Obviously at its worst is if we become separate, if people don't see themselves as Australian and we are off in our own little corners I don't think that's healthy and I don't think that's largely been the experience here in Australia. I think we are a pretty successful migrant nation."
The assistant minister said it’s up to Australia's political leaders who have a responsibility to shape the conversation in a positive and respectful way.
"Certainly I think we as leaders, we as elected representatives have a particular responsibility in the way that we speak to do it in a way that is certainly not divisive and is certainly not condemning of groups of Australians," he said.
His appointment has been met with fury by the federal opposition.
“It is extremely alarming that Zed Seselja, someone who has favoured watering down protections against racist hate speech, has been appointed to this portfolio,” shadow Minister for Citizenship and Multiculturalism Michelle Rowland said.
Last year the senator supported a Family First bill that, if passed, would have removed the words “offend” and “insult” from the Racial Discrimination Act, however, has since softened his stance on any changes to Section 18c.
Mr Seselja will be working with Syrian refugees as part of his social-services responsibilities and said he has a passion for adoption-law reform, among other things.
