Senator Tchen Tsebin on multiculturalism

Before leaving the Federal Senate in 2005, Senator Bin Tchen had some pointed comments about the History Wars and the contribution of a certain historian Keith Windschuttle in relation to the significance of multiculturalism. His comments in Hansard are available here.

Celebrating multicultural diversity in Sydney’s west

On Monday 24 October 2011, the Joint Standing Committee on Migration will visit Parramatta to hear about multiculturalism and productive diversity in Sydney’s west. The Committee’s public hearing will be held at:

The Seminar Room, Parramatta Heritage and Visitor Information Centre

346A Church Street, Parramatta, commencing at 10.15am.

The Committee Chair Ms Maria Vamvakinou stated: “Parramatta is the capital of New South Wales’ vibrant and productive Indian community. The city is known for its annual South East Asian Arts Parramasala Festival and for its famous ‘Eat Street’ of international cuisines, a host location to this year’s Crave Sydney International Food Festival."

Just as background to the visit, on 9 February 2011, the Joint Standing Committee on Migration accepted terms of reference to inquire into the economic, social and cultural impacts of migration and make recommendations to maximise the positive benefits of migration.

The Joint Committee is yet to deliver its findings, but you can read and watch more about the Inquiry here! There's also a great program by About the House magazine on South Australian humanitarian resettlement programs here.

Maria Vamvakinou on Multiculturalism

The Hon Maria Vamvakinou is the Federal member for Calwell and a champion of multiculturalism and its legacy in Australia. On 18 October 2010 she made an important statement before Federal Parliament about the need to legislatively enshrine multiculturalism as social policy. You can read her speech here.