Share this @internewscast.com

Anne Aly, the federal minister responsible for multicultural affairs, stated that the responsibility for social cohesion in Australia should be shared and not attributed solely to multicultural communities. She mentioned to SBS News that the focus on social cohesion had affected migrant groups.

Concerns about social cohesion erupted in the wake of the war in Gaza, with the Albanese government issuing $30 million in community grants and creating a special envoy for social cohesion last year. The role was discontinued earlier this year.

Aly said Australia should remain “vigilant about social cohesion”.

The office will be established within the Home Affairs Department to combine the department’s existing multicultural affairs stream with settlement services and community grants programs.
It falls short of the Multicultural Framework Review’s (MFR) urgent recommendation to establish a standalone Department of Multicultural Affairs, Immigration and Citizenship with a dedicated minister.

“Multiculturalism isn’t solely about social cohesion, and multicultural communities aren’t solely responsible for social cohesion,” she noted. “Social cohesion involves everyone. Assigning total responsibility for social cohesion to multicultural communities, I believe, has contributed to the perception that these communities are overly securitized and accountable for social cohesion issues.”

Since then, the department has been expanded to include additional law enforcement and security agencies, with the Australian Federal Police and Australian Security Intelligence Organisation moved into Home Affairs after May’s federal election.
Aly defended the office belonging under Home Affairs, saying the government had heard concerns from multicultural communities.
“I heard those concerns before I was a member of parliament as a professor and a researcher. It’s something that I’ve written about myself and expressed my own concerns about that securitisation of multicultural communities and securitisation of Multicultural Affairs.”

A review from last year also highlighted concerns about the Department of Home Affairs, indicating that communities felt monitored or managed instead of supported. “This is why we’ve established this office, to create a distinct focus on Multicultural Affairs, bringing it to the forefront within the department, the caucus, and the broader government,” she added.

While the office won’t be a standalone department, the chair of the MFR, Hass Dellal, welcomed the announcement.
“The fact that we have an office now that’s being established that sits within cabinet that will have the ear of the prime minister and cabinet itself. And I think that’s an important feature that wasn’t there before,” he said.
Dellal said the government must ensure there is separation from those operations in the department.

“Although it is sitting within Home Affairs that we [need to] ensure that there is more of an inclusive approach and more celebratory approach, rather than giving the feeling or the sense that there is an approach of monitoring or creating marginalisation.”

Settlement services, including the Adult Migrant English Program, grants for humanitarian entrants and other eligible migrants and communities could be included in the Office, as well as translation and interpreting services, and multicultural affairs policy.
Exactly what’s in the office’s remit will be considered as part of the department’s mandatory consultation period.
The office could start operating from 17 July, a week before the first sitting of the new parliament.
SBS News understands the government intends to create a level of separation between multicultural affairs and the mega Home Affairs department that is responsible for national security, including counterterrorism and border enforcement, the AFP, ASIO, as well as immigration and citizenship.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Israel stops sending aid to northern Gaza, officials report, while Hamas denies accusations of theft.

Officials announced on Thursday that Israel has halted aid deliveries to northern…
'Better than my house': Five-star FIFO housing woos workers

“Luxurious Accommodations: Five-Star FIFO Housing Attracts Workers”

Mineral Resources has officially opened Mungala Resort, a new fly-in-fly-out (FIFO) accommodation…

Anna Wintour to Retire as Editor-in-Chief of US Vogue

Anna Wintour has stepped down as editor of US Vogue after 37…
People walking out of the ATO Office.

Australians Contributed $298 Billion in Taxes, Yet Several Millionaires Paid Nothing

Australians paid over a quarter of a trillion dollars in income tax…
PERTH, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 31: A note is seen in memory of Cassius Turvey on October 31, 2022 in Perth, Australia. Cassius Turvey, 15, died in a Perth hospital last Sunday after he was violently assaulted in Middle Swan. Turvey was walking in the area with friends when he was assaulted. His death has triggered a wave of outrage across Australia, with many vigils and memorials taking place in several cities demanding justice. (Photo by Matt Jelonek/Getty Images)

Life Sentences Given to Killers of Indigenous Teen Cassius Turvey

Warning: This story contains the name and images of a deceased Indigenous…
Crackdown on cancer-linked 'forever chemicals' could cost Aussies big

Cancer-associated ‘forever chemicals’ ban may hit Australians financially

New strict regulations have been established for “forever chemicals” linked to cancer…
Suspects paraded as police reveal new details on Australian Bali villa shooting

New Revelations in Australian Bali Villa Shooting as Suspects Are Presented by Police

Police in Indonesia are probing the deadly shooting of an Australian tourist…
'More questions': US Senators split over Iran attacks after briefing

‘US Senators Divided on Iran Attacks Following Briefing’

US Senators emerged from a classified briefing with sharply diverging assessments of…
Generic scenes of Commonwealth Bank of Australia logo and words, CBA, Banking, office buildings. Monday 13th Janusry 2025 AFR photo Louie Douvis

Australian Bank Uses AI Bots as Decoy Targets for Scams

Australia’s biggest bank will deploy an army of AI bots as part…
Australian money background showing $100, $50 and $20 notes with a shallow depth of field.

The Australian Dollar Achieves a Milestone Not Seen All Year

Shortly after 1pm AEST, the Aussie was buying 65.60 US cents, its…

Papua New Guinea Announces National HIV Emergency

As transmission rates soar, Papua New Guinea has declared a national HIV…

How Iran and the U.S. View the Impact on Iran’s Nuclear Program

The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) of the United States has reported “credible…