Promoting Asian-Australian Participation in Public Life Wednesday 5th November 2014 9:00am – 5:00pm University House, The University of Melbourne Asian-Australian Public Policy Project, Asia Institute Background Inaugural Roundtable, Promoting Asian- The Asian-Australian Public Policy 2013 Australian Participation in Project is a new initiative of the The inaugural event was a Public Life Forum, 2014 Asia Institute. The Project’s goal roundtable held on This year the Asia Institute builds on is to explore Australia’s growing November 28, 2013 to discuss the roundtable in a one-day forum to and diversifying Asian-Australian Asian-Australians’ representation, explore the experiences of Asian- communities, seeking better to contribution and recognition in the Australians in politics and in the understand the experience, status, public sphere in Australia. contribution, and recognition of professions, trade and investment these communities in Australia, Invited speakers included three opportunities of the Asian Century and their role in the development of leading academics from the United and growing ties to the region. States of America, Canada and New Australia’s relations with diverse The panel on the Victorian State Zealand: Professor Don T. Nakanishi Asian countries. Election, 2014 and the participation (the University of California, Los of established and emerging political A wide range of activities will Angeles), Professor Henry Yu (the leaders of Asian background will be delivered, including forums, University of British Columbia) and offer a rare opportunity for focused conferences and publications that Professor Manying Ip (the University discussion about individual as well aim to build the research capacity of Auckland). Australian speakers as group experiences of political and profile of the Project and included: Professor Kwong Lee Dow participation. It also offers insight position it to influence government. AO, (former Vice-Chancellor of the into policy and strategies that will University of Melbourne and current The Project has received the encourage and support the greater Chair of the Australian Multicultural generous financial support of Mr involvement of Asian-Australians in Foundation), and Dr Mukesh Jason Yeap OAM, as well as the national, state and local political and Haikerwal AO, (former President of encouragement of prominent public life. leaders in the community. the Australian Medical Association and current Chair of the World As the Australia in the Asian Century Medical Association). White Paper (2012) noted, the transformation of the Asian region into the economic powerhouse of the world offers Australia unique economic opportunities. There are also social and cultural benefits arising from the broadening and deepening people-to-people links between Australia and the region. Currently, there are some 2.4 million people in Australia who self- identify as having Asian ancestry, amounting to 11% of Australia’s total population of 21.5 million. This forum explores the great potential of Asian-Australians to contribute to Australian public life and towards shaping public policy, and the future of the region. 2 Asian-Australian Public Policy Project, Asia Institute Welcome from the Dean, Faculty of Arts Welcome to the Promoting Asian-Australian Participation in Public Life Forum. On behalf of the Faculty of Arts at the University of Melbourne, I sincerely thank you for your involvement and keen interest in this historic event and the broader Asian-Australian Public Policy Research Project. The forum is the first to gather great Asian-Australian names in federal and state politics and in the professions on the topic of promoting equitable participation and inclusion of Australians of Asian background in Australia’s public life. It provides a platform to continue adding and expanding knowledge and insight into the lives of Australians among us of Asian background and to challenge the barriers to equitable participation for all Australians in public life. I wish to welcome all esteemed speakers at the forum to the University of Melbourne, which has a proud history of research and advocacy for a more inclusive and multicultural Australia. I know that we will be enriched by your contribution. Professor Mark Considine Dean, Faculty of Arts Welcome from the Asia Institute It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to the Promoting Asian-Australian Participation in Public Life Forum, proudly hosted by the Asia Institute. The forum is one outcome of the Asian-Australian Public Policy Project, part of the Population, Migration and Multicultural Studies Network located in the Faculty of Arts. I acknowledge the support of Mr Jason Yeap OAM, Member of the Board of Believe – the Campaign for the University of Melbourne, who has been a strong advocate of the Project and its mission to better understand the particular dynamics of Asian-Australian participation in public life. The Asia Institute is the primary centre for studies in Asian and Middle Eastern languages, cultures and societies at the University of Melbourne. As the importance of Asia and the Middle East to Australia continues to grow, we strive to provide leadership in the study of the rich intellectual, political, cultural and religious traditions of these vital regions. Our teaching programs include Arabic, Chinese, Indonesian and Japanese languages as well as Asian and Islamic Studies. In addition new frontiers of our research and engagement are the growing and diversifying immigrant and local-born Australians of Asian heritage and their roles in Australia’s relations with Asia. Welcome to the forum and I trust you will find Promoting Asian-Australian Participation in Public Life to be an enriching and rewarding academic and community gathering. Professor Pookong Kee Director, Asia Institute Promoting Asian-Australian Participation in Public Life 3 Promoting Asian-Australian Participation in Public Life 9:15am–9:30am Welcome and Opening Welcome and Opening, 9:30am 9:30am–10:15am Senator the Hon. Penny Wong and Senator the Hon. Lisa Singh are unable to attend the forum, which coincides with the state memorial service in Sydney for former Prime Minister Gough Whitlam. Their speeches have been recorded for the forum. Chair: Associate Professor Nana Oishi, Deputy Director, Asia Institute, the University of Melbourne Australia’s Asian Century: Trade and Investment Opportunities, (filmed speech) Senator the Hon. Penny Wong Senator for South Australia, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, Shadow Minister for Trade and Investment, and former Minister for Finance, Australian Labor Party Asian-Australians in Public Life, (filmed speech) Senator the Hon. Lisa Singh Senator for Tasmania, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment, Climate Change and Water, Australian Labor Party 10:15am–10:45am Morning Tea Break 10:45am–12:30pm Asian-Australians in the Victorian State Election, 2014 Chairs: Professor Don Nakanishi, Professor/Director Emeritus, Centre for Asian American Studies, the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Dr Jen Tsen Kwok, Honorary Research Fellow, the University of Queensland and Associate, Asia Institute, the University of Melbourne Panellists: Ms Alex Bhathal, Candidate for Northern Metropolitan Region, the Australian Greens Party Dr Stanley Chiang, Candidate for Western Metropolitan Region, the Australian Labor Party Mr Hong Lim MP, Current State Member for Clayton district for the Australian Labor Party and candidate for the new Clarinda district Ms Gladys Liu, Candidate for the Northern Metropolitan Region, the Liberal Party of Australia Mr Jude Perera MP, Current State Member for Cranbourne district for the Australian Labor Party and candidate for Cranbourne Ms Harriet Shing, Candidate for the Legislative Council, Eastern Region Victoria, the Australian Labor Party Cr Jennifer Yang, Candidate for Mount Waverley, the Australian Labor Party 12:30pm–1:30pm Lunch Break 4 Asian-Australian Public Policy Project, Asia Institute 1:30pm–3:15pm Fostering Asian Australian Leadership and Participation in Public Life in the Asian Century Chair: Mr Jason Yeap OAM, Chairman, Mering Corporation Pty Ltd and Chairman, Herbaceutic Holdings Ltd, China; Patron, Multicultural Arts Victoria; Member of the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute Board; The Australia Day Ambassador and former Chairman of the National Gallery of Victoria Foundation Dr John Yu AC, Australian of the Year 1996; former CEO, Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children, Westmead; Chancellor, University of New South Wales; Foundation Chair NSW Commission for Children and Young People, and Vice-Chair, Art Gallery of NSW Board Ms Cam Nguyen, Founding President and current Secretary and Chief Executive Officer, Australian Vietnamese Women’s Association (AVWA) Mr Chin Tan, Chairperson, Victorian Multicultural Commission (VMC) Mr Reynah Tang, President of the Asian Australian Lawyers Association; immediate Past President of the Law Institute of Victoria, and Partner at Johnson Winter & Slattery 3:15pm–3:30pm Afternoon Tea Break 3:30pm–4:00pm Concluding Address: Inclusiveness in Multicultural Australia Chair: Dr Sara Wills, Associate Dean (Advancement), Faculty of Arts, the University of Melbourne Professor Andrew Markus, Pratt Foundation Chair of Jewish Civilisation, Monash University 4:00pm–4:30pm The Way Forward: Vision and Program for Promoting Asian Australian Participation in Public Life Facilitator: Professor Pookong Kee, Director, Asia Institute, the University of Melbourne