MIGRATION ACTION Vol XV, Number 1 February, 1 993 BROTHERHOOD OF ST. LAURENCE 67 BRUNSWICK STREET FITZROY VICTORIA 3065 The 1 9 9 3 Federal Elections THE BATTLEGROUND OVER IMMIGRATION New books from EMC's Bookshop B 5 9 0 W ho Do You Think You Are? Second generation immigrant women in Austral Edited by Karen Herne, Joanne Travagla and Elizabeth W e iss. Woman's Redress Press, 1952 Price: $ 1 4 .9 5 B 5 8 9 Australia's Italians: Culture and Community in a Changing Society Edited by Stephen Castles, Caroline Alcorso, Gaetano Rando, Ellie Vasta. Allen and Unwin, 1992 Price: $ 19.95 B588 Immigrants and the Australian Labour Market: The Experience of Three Recessions By Robert Ackland and Lynne S W illia m s with Anthony Marshall, BIR/AGPS, 1992 Price: $ 9 .9 5 B 5 8 7 Children of Immigrants: Issues of Poverty and Disadvantage Edited by Janet Taylor, Helen MacDonald, Brotherhood of St Laurence, BIR/AGPS, 1992 Price: $ 1 4 .9 5 B 5 8 6 Community Languages: The Australian Experience By Michael Clyne, 1991 Price: $ 2 9 .9 5 B585 Racial Harassment By Greta Bird (ed) 1992 Price: $ 1 7.00 B 5 8 4 Settlement Needs of Small Newly Arrived Ethnic Groups By James Jupp, Andrea McRobbie and Barry York, 1 991 Price: $1 6 .9 5 B583 Asian Entrepreneurs in Australia: Ethnic Small Business in the Indian and Chinese Communities of Brisbane and Sydney By Constance Lever-Tracey, David Ip, Jim Kitay, Irene Phillips and Noel Tracey, 1991 Price: $ 1 6 .9 5 B582 Homeland By George Papaellinas (ed), 1991 Price: $ 16.95 Purchases from fhe EMC Bookshop may be made by phoning (03) 416 0044 / MIGRATION ACTION __________C o n f e n f s_________ VOL XV NUMBER 1, FEBRUARY 1993 Editorial ISSN: 0311-3760 The battleground over immigration ....................2 Migration Action is Labor's new multicultural agenda, PaulKeating ......... ...3 published by the Ecumenica The Coalition election agenda on immigration, Migration Centre, John Hew son...........................................................................6 1 2 5 Leicester Street, Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia, 3065 Democrats approach issue as a total look at population, John Coulter ........................ 1 1 Tel: (03)416 0 0 4 4 Fax: (03)416 1827 Gerry Hand's record and policies, Gerry Hand......................................... 1 4 EMC is a non-government agency which, through its welfare, educational, project and Coalition immigration and ethnic affairs policy, community work fosters the development of Philip Ruddock....................... 1 6 Australia as a multicultural society. The centre has been working with migrants since 1962. Its work is diversified, from community service The federal election and Australia's ethnic and development to social action and communities, Victor Rebikoff............................................2 0 community education. Within a framework o f ensuring equal access and rights for all in Australian society, EMC Election '9 3 : Perspectives for immigration and provides counselling services and community multiculturalism, Stephen C astles.............. ....... .........24 development activities to a number o f ethnic communities, both established and newly arrived. Four priorities for a new government, EMC also initiates research towards an Bishop Michael Challen.................... 2 9 understanding o f a range o f issues, and promotes change where necessary. EMC operates a Documentation Centre Immigration, multiculturalism and the 1993 comprising a library, a bookshop and federal election, Colin Rubenstein .............................33 publishing house, formerly the Clearing House on Migration Issues (CHOMI). This is a unique information centre on migrant, refugee and Immigration issues and the 1993 election, ethnic issues. The library holds over 40,000 documents and 250 periodicals which are used Robert Birrell ....................................... 3 9 by students, teachers, government departments, community organisations and others seeking up-to- date information or undertaking research. Media Watch............................ ........42 Editorial Committee: Tony Pensabene, Robert M ister, Tonina Gucciardo and Dr Robert Doyle Editing, design and production: Shane Scanlan M ed ia TIO N Printing: Printgraphics It is not the intention of this journal to reflect the opinion of either the staff or the committee of EM C . In many matters this would be difficult to ascertain, nor do the editors think it desirable. The aim of the journal is to be informative and stimulat­ ing through its various articles, suggestions and comments. SU B SC R IP TIO N RATES: (per volume of 3 issues) As from January 1 9 9 3 — $ 3 6 .0 0 (individuals) — $ 4 5 .0 0 (institutions) — $ 5 0 .0 0 (abroad) — Single issue: $ 1 5 .0 0 . FEBRUARY 1993 Editorial igration Action I he battleground over immigration his issue of Migration Action is devoted solely to Harsh conditions are set on entry into the countiy, the March 13 federal elections. particularly for close relatives, restrictions are placed T or proposed on new arrivals’ eligibility to social All the major political parties have contributed to security and other entitlements and user pays this issue. Contributions have been prepared by the principles applied to special services to non-English Prime Minister, the Hon Paul Keating, and Leaders of speaking residents. the Coalition and the Australian Democrats (the Hon Sure, we have a recession and the country needs to Dr John Hewson and Senator Dr John Coulter tighten its belt. But the political parties’ approach to respectively). The Federal Minister for Immigration immigration lacks tolerance, fairness and justice - (the Hon Gerry Hand) and Shadow Minister (the Hon characteristics one tends to association with the Philip Ruddock) have also contributed to this issue. Australian way of life. As well, Migration Action has asked a number of The other predominate approach that is evident in community leaders and thinkers to comment on the federal politics is how issues relating to settlement federal elections — Victor Rebikoff (FECCA), Bishop and ethnic affairs have become irrelevant or non­ Challen, Professor Castles, Drs Rubenstein and Birrell. political issues. The politics of the 1970s and early Their contributions ensure that this issue of Migration 1980s were focused on post-arrival services and Action is the most timely and comprehensive election programs, the need to improve services and to ensure coverage of immigration and ethnic affairs ever access and equity. undertaken in Australia. The great initiatives in ethnic affairs - in media, From an editor’s point of view, I must say that the language services, settlement, legal and labour market current election debate over immigration is program — came during the post-Galbally years. depressing at the extreme. The ethnic affairs policies of the 1990s appear to be Immigration appears to have became the captive of barren of innovation, imagination and vision. And the the Treasury and economic ministries of Government. 1993 election campaign reflects how services to Both the Government and Opposition parties are ethnic communities have become a marginal issue. committed to reductions in immigration numbers. Lets hope that the next Government will restore the Rather than accepting immigrants as valuable players balance of debate and policy initiatives between in Australian society, the politics of economic immigration and ethnic affairs. rationalism prevails. Our next issue of Migration Action will examine the situation facing migrant youth in Australia. Tony Pensabene Chairperson 2 FEBRUARY 1993 Labor's new multicultural agenda dynamism. It has made Australia more outward looking and more worldly. And even more importantly, has made us more tolerant. There have been three distinct phases in Australia’s post-war response to its immigrants. The first phase was characterised by an expectation that immigrants would fit into the dominant Anglo-Australian culture. The second was characterised by the encouragement By Paul Keating MP, of tolerance and respect for diversity, and the effort to Prime Minister, ensure access and equity regardless of ethnic origin. And this effort will continue. obody now doubts that Australia is a But we now have the beginnings o f a third phase - a multicultural society. Demographically, phase which emphasises the benefits of our diversity. multiculturalism is a descriptive fact. N W e now must take advantage of the potentially huge But it is a shallow reading o f our history and national economic asset which multiculturalism geography to suggest that this means we cannot be represents. one nation. The term “multicultural” was first used in The inspiration for this third phase is the perception the United States in 1941 as a global concept to that two things must be brought together: counter the excesses of nationalism. It stood for diversity within unity then; it stands for maximising □ The need for a still more competitive and the benefits and opportunities presented by the diversified economy with a strong export base; diversity in one nation now. and Our special identity as a nation comes very much □ The cultural affinities Australians have with from the fact that we are derivative o f no single virtually all the countries with whom we want to heritage. Our identity reflects a unique weaving do business. together of diverse cultural and historical experiences, These affinities might be likened to having and some fundamental democratic and practical representatives in the field who, through their values, including