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Essay on Australian Multiculturalism and Immigration

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Multiculturalism is a term used within a number of different contexts and thus can greatly vary in terms of its meaning. In the context of Australian political history however, ‘Multiculturalism’ can be viewed as a national ideology- a policy and framework that has guided and strengthened the cultural development of a unique Island Nation. Designed to embrace and promote unity amongst diversity, Australian Multiculturalism seeks to ensure that all Australians are simultaneously assured the right to maintain their culture, whilst committing to their responsibilities of accepting others and obeying the Australian law.

Therefore, Australian Multiculturalism is a unique, strategic construction of a rhetoric that illustrates the capacity …show more content…

The unwavering commitment to economic growth has seen an agreement, a continued bipartisan consensus on the topics of immigration and national security. Essentially all parties have remained committed to necessary population expansion whilst believing that judicial power and governmental control over the acceptance or entrance of new peoples must remain to ensure that the country and it peoples welfare is ‘secure’. Despite this consensus however, all parties have repeatedly used political arguments and tactics to make it appear that another party is failing where they could succeed.

A great example of this is the current ‘border protection’ debate. Within this debate Labour is seen as pro-immigration, with a humanitarian need to balance strict national security with humane justice and treatment. In an article accessed on the National Labor Government website it is stated that:

“Prime Minister Julia Gillard today announced new steps to strengthen Australia’s border protection arrangements and to manage irregular arrivals…she initiated steps to develop a sustainable framework involving the establishment of a…processing centre…(that) would ensure…consistent, fair assessment processes…If re-elected…will pursue…changes to further strengthen penalties…taking a serious long term approach to the challenge of…immigration” (Gillard, 2010, p. 1).

Interestingly, the Coalitions stance on this issue is portrayed as one in

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