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Maltese Community Council of Victoria, Inc. 477 Royal Parade | Parkville Victoria 3052 | Australia Phone: (03) 9387 8922 Fax: (03) 9387 8309 MCCV News Email: [email protected] Website: www.mccv.org.au No. 124 • March-April 2014 • www.mccv.org.au Editor: Dr Edwin Borg-Manché MCCV denounces proposed racial In this issue discrimination law changes • President’s Column: The typical 2 second generation Maltese On 29 March the Maltese Community Council of Victoria joined other Australian ethnic • MCCV Second Generation communities in strongly denouncing the Maltese survey report changes to the Racial Discrimination Act proposed by the Federal Government. In a • Notes from MCCV Council 3 controversial response to a question put by Meetings Labour Senator Nova Peris in the Senate last Monday, Attorney General Senator George • Marie Louise Coleiro Preca 4 Brandis QC defended free speech and his becomes Malta’s ninth President government’s plan to change Australia’s racial discrimination laws. • Sir Peter Cosgrove sworn in as 5 In a letter sent to both the Prime Minister Australia’s new Governor- Tony Abbott and Senator Brandis the MCCV Senator George Brandis General expressed its support for the statements made As other prominent Australians have by other ethnic and religious organisations pointed out, bigotry simply has no place in the • Abbott government commis- 6 condemning the proposed modifications in the Australian society and should not be sions ABC and SBS efficiency Racial Discrimination Act. The MCCV potentially facilitated, if not encouraged, by review strongly urged the federal government to the proposed changes to the race laws. The withdraw the intended changes and listen to current provisions are necessary as there can • Malta’s George Cross Award 7 the chorus of objections, which the proposed be such a marked disparity in power commemorated in Melbourne action has generated from all sectors of the relationships between the perpetrator of speech Australian society. that is liable to ‘“offend, insult, humiliate or • Council for Maltese Living 8 Abroad holds its fourth meeting The MCCV firmly opposes the repeal of intimidate”, and its recipients, who are unable Section 18C of the Act. Repealing this section to defend themselves for whatever reason. would send the message that it would be no Members of minority groups are especially • Language reversion in ageing 9 longer offensive to use hate speech. vulnerable to such racial attacks because of the migrants can impact quality of life The protection of ‘free speech’ should not lack of social support or even an inadequate be an excuse for making such a drastic change command of the English language – the to the Act. There is no such thing as the right language through which racial prejudice is • Superstitions and the Maltese 10 to ‘free speech’ without the corresponding invariably expressed. Recipients of such an bogeyman obligation to behave in a civilised manner attack are not empowered to respond towards other people irrespective of their adequately, and therefore need the full • Maltese Parliament passes Civil 11 racial or ethnic background. protection of the law. Unions Act • 1950s and ’60s proxy brides 12 Federal government proposes from Malta • Generation AusMalts Figolli 13 controversial race law changes Baking Masterclass a big success In a controversial response to a question in Section 18C was introduced into the Racial the Senate on Monday 24 March, Australia’s Discrimination Act in 1995, during Paul • Maltese Association of Hobson’s 14 Attorney General Senator George Brandis QC Keating’s prime ministership. For the Bay celebrates Jum il-Ħelsien defended free speech and his government’s following 11 years under Prime Minister John • Feast of Christ the Redeemer in plan to change Australia’s racial discrimination Howard, this effective protection against hate Melbourne laws. When asked by Labour Senator Nova speech remained on the statute books. The key Peris about the government’s intentions, reason for Senator Brandis’ proposed major Senator Brandis responded: “People do have a • Reskeon Seniors BBQ lunch at 15 changes appears to be almost solely as a result Edwardes Lake Park right to be bigots, you know. In a free country of the successful case brought against pro people do have rights to say things that other Liberal journalist, Mr Andrew Bolt. • New book sheds new light on people find offensive or insulting or bigoted.” In a 2011 case, Federal Court Justice Malta’s early wartime experience Before last election then Opposition Leader Bromberg found that Mr Bolt breached Tony Abbott promised to repeal section 18C of Section 18C, holding that “fair-skinned • Maltese vote in European 16 the Racial Discrimination Act, which makes it Aboriginal people” were reasonably likely, unlawful to publicly “offend, insult, humiliate Parliament election on 24 May or intimidate” a person or a group of people. Continued on page 6 • Community Calendar Page 2 • MCCV News No. 124 • March - April 2014 • www.mccv.org.au The President’s Column MCCV second generation Maltese survey report The typical second-generation Maltese hile it is true that many Maltese of the first generation (that is, born in Malta), share many characteristics recognisable as typically Maltese, it would be much harder to recognise someone W from the second generation as typically Maltese. You might indeed say that there is no such thing as a typical Maltese from the second generation. A survey carried out recently throws some light on this issue. Persons in this category are more likely to have the following characteristics: They are likely to be in the 40-50 age group, but a few might well be over 60 and retired by now; Over the past few weeks MCCV More than half of them have a tertiary qualification; President Professor Maurice Cauchi Most would be married, often to non-Maltese, and most likely have two has been conducting a survey among children, rarely more; second generation Maltese in Australia. More than 200 persons of Maltese The vast majority consider themselves to be Maltese-Australians, and only a background participated in the survey. small proportion consider themselves as unhyphenated 'Australian'; The report of the survey results was About half of them are likely to be able to understand some Maltese, but very published today. few can speak it fluently. Moreover, it is the exception to find that they speak The MCCV has long felt the need for Maltese to their children; a survey of the second-generation They do not belong to Maltese organisations; Maltese in Australia to get a better picture of their differences from their A considerable number keep in touch with Maltese affairs, particularly ascendants. Very little was known through the internet, but not from listening to local ethnic radio. A about the second-generation, their considerable proportion would participate in voting in Maltese or European beliefs and characteristics and their elections if facilities (like postal voting) was made available; connection with Maltese language and About a third of them possess a Maltese passport, and about an equal number culture. In effect, they have, for a long intend to apply for one; and time, been a hidden entity, not distinguishable in any way from the The majority have visited Malta, often on several occasions, and are general Australian public. The only impressed by what they found. statistics which have been readily This is only a brief sketch of the findings from this survey. More information available relate to the Australian census may be obtained from the MCCV website and mauricecauchi.wordpress.com. statistics which gives information One can draw certain conclusions from these findings, assuming they represent about those with a Maltese ethnic the overall second-generation persons of Maltese background in Australia. background. It is clear that Maltese language maintenance has become practically It was, therefore, deemed appropriate impossible in spite of hard efforts by the MCCV and other bodies. The high to conduct a survey to study this group degree of intermarriage with non-Maltese speaking partners makes language of persons through a questionnaire, maintenance so much more difficult. which covered considerable ground, However, there is still a relatively strong link with the mother country, as including personal data, family, evinced by their emphasis on their Maltese ethnicity, the number having Maltese education, links with Malta, passports and their intention to apply for one if they do not, the high number of relationships with other ethnic groups, persons visiting Malta, and also, surprisingly, from their interest in Maltese and and so on. Participants were also given European political issues. an opportunity to express their views through their comments, some of It is also clear from these results that the second generation are not contactable which have been included in this through Maltese organisations, or even Maltese ethnic radio, which makes Report. communication with them so much more difficult. It is hoped that this Report will fill an In spite of these difficulties, the MCCV is committed to continue its efforts in empty niche, and provide interested ensuring that Maltese language and culture will continue in the future for as long persons with empirical data which, to as possible. our knowledge, cannot be found elsewhere. Prof. Maurice Cauchi Click here to download a copy of the MCCV President report. No. 124 • March - April 2014 • www.mccv.org.au MCCV News • Page 3 Notes from MCCV Council Meetings MARCH 2014 APRIL 2014 At the Council Meeting held on Wednesday 5 March 2014 the At the Council Meeting held on Wednesday 2 April 2014 the following items were discussed: following items were discussed: Sad loss to the Maltese Community. On Thursday 6th March, the MCCV’s objection to proposed changes to the Racial Maltese community in Victoria has lost one of its prominent Discrimination Act.