"Multiculturalism the key to unlocking gold future for Australia"

PM Abbott

 “Australia, in a sense, is the global village in one country; this gives our country tremendous strength.”– Prime Minister Tony Abbott 

2/1/2015

(Translation of this article appears in Arabic section)

Sydney - M. E. TIMES Int'l: Prime Minister Tony Abbott hosted an afternoon tea for the multicultural media community at Kirribilli House in Sydney.

The event was attended by many members and representatives of the Multiculatuaral media. Also attends the event Senator Connie Veraphanta Wales, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Social Services and the Attorney General. And attended from the Arab media Mr Joseph Khoury, the publisher of the Future newspaper and Mr Camil Shalala the Chief Editor of the "Middle East Times" magazine, and was attended by well-known businessman Mr. Joe Assaf.

Excerpts of PM Abbott’s speech

As I say quite often these days, modern Australia has an Indigenous heritage, a British foundation and a multicultural character. It the multicultural character of modern Australia that I wish to celebrate today and wish all of you represent and help promote.

LtoR: Joseph Khoury, Prime Minister Tony Abbott, Camil Shalala and Joe Assaf  

The interesting thing about Australia is that almost every single one of us is a migrant or a descendent of migrants; not a distant descendent but a near descendent.

In my case my grandparents on my mother’s side were migrants, my father was a migrant and, by an accident of my parents geography at the time, I am myself a migrant although I have to say I’m certainly not a particularly multicultural migrant but nevertheless I am a migrant as well.

PM Tony Abbott in a group photo with representatives of the multicultural media

The interesting feature of Australia as a result of our very strong multicultural character is that we have insights into the world.  Australia, in a sense, is the global village in one country; this gives our country tremendous strength. 

It gives our country tremendous potential insight into the world.  It also adds a heroic dimension to our national life, the fact that people can come to this country from the four corners of the Earth. 

During the meeting

They can come to this country of any culture, of any religion.  They can be of any ethnicity but they can come here, feel welcome, make themselves a home and flourish mightily so that their children, if not themselves, can inspire to the highest office of the land. 

Senator Connie, for instance: her parents came to this country hardly speaking a word of English with no great wealth, no great position. Now, of course, she is a member of the executive counsel of our country. Of course she’s not the first child of migrants to go a very long way in our country.  And there will be so many more as our history unfolds.

I guess when I see people who represent the breadth and depth and diversity of modern Australia I feel very encouraged about our future because so many people from around the world look at this country and like what they see enough to wish to make their home here.  All of us should have enormous confidence in the future of Australia.

Senator Connie Fierravanti-Wells

Australia is one of the most culturally diverse yet socially cohesive nations on Earth  -- 45% of us were born overseas or have at least one parent born overseas. 

It’s so important the role that you play every day because you bring Australian news, you bring international news to our culturally diverse society but you are also links that make the relationship between Australia and your respective countries so very important.

First Lady Maggie Abbott with some ladies