Australia: Returning multiculturalism to the ministry

Marking a move back to the centre:

Overlooked so far in coverage of Prime Minister Turnbull’s remaking of the Australian government has been one intriguing change — the return of a Minister for Multiculturalism. Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells’ promotion from Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Social Services to Assistant Minister for Multicultural Affairs has gone largely unreported.

The possible significance is not in the nomenclature, as the new Prime Minister remarked when announcing his ministry, parliamentary secretaries are in fact assistant ministers and should be referred to as such.

The senator’s new title means that multicultural affairs are once again acknowledged formally in the ministerial line-up. This small change has leaders in the culturally and linguistically diverse sector wondering whether it signals any change in priorities.

Australia is a migrant nation, with almost half of us coming from overseas or having at least one parent born overseas. While most newcomers identify as proud Aussies, they often maintain their links with countries of origin and sustain legacy languages.

Neither side of politics owns their votes, but this powerful constituency has been recognised and courted by successive governments over decades.

While the demographics have evolved with time and prosperity, migrant communities have often settled in marginal seats such as those in western Sydney which are regarded as likely to decide the outcome of the next election.

Some, reportedly, were worried when the Abbott Government did not include a minister for ethnic or multicultural affairs on coming to power. There were concerns the previous administration did not see this sector as important.

As the Turnbull government signals a move back to the centre of Australian politics, there are hopes in community organisations that this political recognition means that Australian multiculturalism is again valued.

Source: Returning multiculturalism to the ministry | Business Spectator