The Department of the Premier and Cabinet’s (DPC) South Australian Multicultural and Ethnic Affairs Commission (SAMEAC) is to begin work on a new set of principles defining what multiculturalism means to South Australians.
In a statement, the DPC said the Commission’s South Australian Multicultural Charter was the centrepiece of the new South Australian Multicultural Bill 2021, which passed both Houses of Parliament on 14 October.
The Department said the Commission would conduct community consultation as a vital part of the Charter development process.
Introducing the Bill to Parliament, Premier Steven Marshall said that following a 2019 review the Bill was developed to replace the South Australian Multicultural and Ethnic Affairs Commission Act 1980.
Mr Marshall said the Bill reflected feedback received during a consultation period, which strongly supported the need to bring South Australia’s multicultural legislation into the 21st century.
“This fulfils the Review’s aim to develop fresh legislation and by setting a foundation for new multicultural policy directions, affirm the Government’s ongoing commitment to building stronger and vibrant multicultural communities,” he said.
Mr Marshall said the Bill significantly included two new functions for the SAMEAC, firstly to raise awareness and promote understanding of interculturalism and secondly to promote the South Australian multicultural charter and the advantages of a multicultural society.
DPC said key features of the Bill included Bringing South Australia’s multicultural legislation into the 21st century; Retaining the Commission as an independent statutory body with up to 15 members; Requiring the development of a new South Australian Multicultural Charter; Updating the language to reflect contemporary terms, with the removal of the term ‘ethnic’ and introduction of the concept of interculturalism; and Refining the Commission’s core functions to align with the needs and aspirations of our diverse community.
The 12-page Bill can be accessed at this PS News link.
