Chief Minister, Andrew Barr has announced that Canberra officially became a Welcoming City on last week’s Harmony Day (21 March).
Mr Barr said the ACT’s membership of the network of welcoming cities demonstrated the Territory’s national leadership role in supporting diversity and ensuring all members of the community felt included, welcomed and had a sense of belonging.
“Welcoming Cities is a growing network of 135 cities, shires, towns and municipalities around the world and reconfirms our commitment to including all Canberrans in social, cultural, economic and civic life,” Mr Barr said.
“The ACT Government has a long-standing commitment to welcoming and supporting new migrants and people seeking asylum and humanitarian assistance as they make Canberra their home.”
Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Chris Steel said that while Canberra becoming a Welcoming City was appropriately announced on Harmony Day, the move took on a new significance following the terrorist attacks in Christchurch.
“Inclusion is a choice, and by becoming a Welcoming City we are making a strong statement that we choose to welcome migrant and multicultural communities in Canberra,” Mr Steel said.
“This step will enable us to benchmark ourselves against standards for Welcoming Cities and identify practical actions to improve inclusion in our city.”
He said Canberra would work with other cities, towns and communities around Australia who were grappling with the complexities of building cohesion, learn from each other and share best practice.
More than 26 per cent of Canberrans are born overseas and one in four people speak a language other than English, with the most common languages being Mandarin, Vietnamese, Cantonese and Hindi, the Minister said.
