Canberra’s growth as an inclusive city is to be supported with the tabling of a new Bill defining what an inclusive city looks like and which Canberrans are striving to achieve as a community.
In tabling the Multiculturalism Bill 2022, the Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Tara Cheyne said the legislation celebrated the Territory’s multiculturalism and diversity as a community.
Ms Cheyne said the Bill would create a Charter and enshrine in law the Ministerial Advisory Council for Multiculturalism.
She said it also provided ways for the ACT Government to report back to the community on its progress as a welcoming and inclusive city.
“The ACT is a rapidly growing culturally and linguistically diverse community,” Ms Cheyne said.
“We are a city that welcomes people and supports them to belong and participate in the social, political, cultural, economic, educational and civic life of our city,” she said.
“Initially titled the Multicultural Recognition Bill, the new title “multiculturalism” reflects the feedback we received from the community that the legislation should celebrate multiculturalism and diversity, not only recognise it.”
Ms Cheyne said Government consulted extensively with the community on the legislation, with a first round of consultations in April 2021 and a second round in June and July 2022.
Chair of the Multicultural Advisory Council, John Kalokerinos said four States across Australia (NSW, Victoria, QLD and SA) had already put multicultural legislation of this kind in place.
“The introduction of the Multiculturalism Bill 2022 puts the ACT one step closer to joining those jurisdictions in having important legislation like this in place,” Mr Kalokerinos said.
