Multiculturalism and Australia

Running head: ARTS, LAW AND POLITICS
MULTICULTURALISM AND AUSTRALIA
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ARTS, LAW AND POLITICS
Multiculturalism and Australia:
Australia is a multicultural state where terms like discrimination, equality and other
diverse policies are not accepted. According to a census report in 2011, almost 26%
population consists of overseas citizen and 20% belongs to that category where any one of
the parents born overseas (Shohat and Stam 2014). Australia is one of the countries that
promote the European migration policy. It can be observed that many migrants from outside
states are taken shelter in this country and the social, economic and political life of the
country has been affected by this liberal migrant policy. The Australian Sociological
Association’s (TASA) Migration Ethnicity and Multiculturalism (MEM) Thematic Group
and the Centre for Citizenship and Globalisation have conducted a research program on the
multiculturalism in Australia. The term multiculturalism could not be separated from the
immigration. Former Minister for Immigration Al Grassby has pronounced the term
multiculturalism in 1973 (Prato 2016). It has been observed that migration creates great
impacts on the economic, social and culture of Australia. However, certain new challenges
have been cropped up due to strong adaptability of migration policy by the Australian
government. The funding process for the immigrants is maintained by the Department of
Immigration and it helps the refugees to settle their lives in the country (Rhoads and Valadez
2016). It has been observed that the refugee settlement policy of Australia create positive
impact and a good social structure has been build up due to this. The Australian government
has adopted certain policies to maintain an ethnicity in the communities and equal
opportunity for all. Further, certain efforts have made by the government to bring the skills
and labour of the migrants in the light so that they can mix up with the mainstream of
Australia (Taylor 2016). In the year 2010, the Australian government to help the refugees
settled in Australia has initiated Settlement Grants Programme.

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ARTS, LAW AND POLITICS
Australia is a cultural state where certain unity in diversity can be found. A mix up
in different religions makes this country to be regarded as multicultural country. The
fundamental element of multicultural society is the proper establishment of human rights.
Human rights reflect the secular nature of the society and the principle of equality and
advance dignity established in this regard (Malik 2015). Australia strongly supports the
concept of human rights and the country has initiated many programs regarding the same.
When there is a conflict regarding race, religion, ethnicity and originality between the people,
multiculturalism could not be established (Mitchell 2016). A huge number of migrants are
entered in to the territory of Australia and Australian government has taken various steps for
their habitat in that country. In Australia, certain steps have been taken to engage the skilled
migrants in various companies or factories and provide all the migrants a social status. The
liberal migration policy of the Australian government has made the path of the migrants
easier and Australia becomes a migrant favoured country for past years. Further, certain
societal changes can be observed due to the migrants. They are bringing their own culture to
this country and when they come and take shelter in this country, their culture mixed up with
the cultural segment of this country (Boese and Marotta 2017). Therefore, an easy access of
the multicultural society established. Former Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural and
Humanitarian Entrants Gary Hardgrave has announced a review of settlement services for the
migrants in 2002. According to the resettlement program settled by United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Australia is the second largest country that gives
shelter to the refugees and works for resettling them in the continent. Additionally, the Report
on the Review of Settlement Services for Migrants and Humanitarian Entrants 2003 has
supported the outlook of the Australian government in this perspective and in 2006; the
Australian government has released certain National Frameworks to deal with migration
related issue (Mann 2016). However, certain problems are facing by the immigrants of whom