Multicultural Affairs Ministers from around Australia met at Parliament House, Canberra on Tuesday 4 October 2022 to advance inter-governmental cooperation and collaboration to strengthen cohesion and inclusion across Australia’s successful multicultural society.
The Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, Hon Andrew Giles MP, chaired the Forum, which was attended by ministers from each state and territory.
Minister Giles outlined the Australian Government’s strengths-based approach to building on Australia’s multicultural success, including a review of the Australian Government’s multicultural policy framework, and an initiative to strengthen the collection of data on Australia’s diversity.
Ministers discussed the growing diversity of Australian society, cooperation related to migration and humanitarian settlement, coordinated support for culturally and linguistically diverse communities, and collaboration to counter racial discrimination and vilification.
Ministers’ discussion was informed by expert briefings from:
- the Race Discrimination Commissioner, Mr Chin Tan, on the development of the Australian Human Rights Commission’s ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Anti-Racism Framework.
- the Australian Bureau of Statistics on how Census data enables a better understanding of Australia’s growing diversity; and
- Department of Health and Aged Care on the importance of tailored communication of public health information to diverse communities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ministers agreed there would be value in convening biannual meetings of the Forum, which would provide an opportunity to discuss:
- deeper cooperation to strengthen Australia’s cohesive multicultural society, including in support of effective migration and humanitarian settlement outcomes;
- work together to respond to racial discrimination and vilification, including with the Australian Human Rights Commission as it develops the ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Anti-Racism Framework; and
- collaboration on sharing data on Australia’s diversity.
Name | Title |
|---|---|
The Hon Andrew Giles MP | Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs |
Tara Cheyne MLA Australian Capital Territory | Minister for Multicultural Affairs Minister for the Arts Minister for Business and Better Regulation Minister for Human Rights Assistant Minister for Economic Development |
The Hon Mark Coure MP New South Wales | Minister for Multiculturalism Minister for Seniors |
The Hon Ngaree Ah Kit MLA Northern Territory | Minister for Multicultural Affairs Minister for Corporate and Digital Development Minister for International Education Minister for Disabilities |
The Hon Leanne Linard MP Queensland | Minister for Multicultural Affairs Minister for Children and Youth Justice |
The Hon Zoe Bettison MP South Australia | Minister for Multicultural Affairs Minister for Tourism |
The Hon Nic Street MP Tasmania | Minister for Hospitality and Events Minister for Community Services and Development Minister for Sport and Recreation Minister for Local Government |
The Hon Ros Spence MP Victoria | Minister for Multicultural Affairs Minister for Prevention of Family Violence Minister for Community Sport Minister for Youth |
The Hon Dr Tony Buti MLA Western Australia | Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Interests Minister for Finance Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Minister for Racing and Gaming |
