Commission
Date: Tue, 29 Aug 2000 19:27:21 +1000
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The following letter is from Peter Wong AM MLC re the NSW Government's
attempt to rename and change the Ethnic Affairs Commission
24 August 2000
Dear Colleague,
The NSW Carr Government is once again trying to get the Community
Relations Commission Bill passed by Parliament. This would change the
name of the Ethnic Affairs Commission to "Community Relations
Commission", without the word "Multicultural" in the name.
For over one year ethnic communities have fought against this, and the name
change has been blocked by a majority of the Upper House Members of
Parliament. The next few days will be critical, as the Government is making
one last effort to pressure Members of Parliament.
I am asking you to send a letter addressed to the cross-bench Members of
the Legislative Council. See the draft letter attached.
Please Fax it to 9230 3312.
Please pass this message on to your friends as well.
If the Government refuses to change the Bill and it is passed by Parliament:
* The words "Multicultural" or "Ethnic" will no longer be in the name of
the Commission. This will be a clear signal that the Government no longer
publicly supports multiculturalism or ethnic communities, and is moving to
a policy of assimilation.
* The Government's proposed by-line "for a multicultural NSW" will never be
heard or seen in everyday use, because it is not in the actual name.
* The Commission would have an additional "community relations" role, but
no extra budget or staff. Therefore, its present work to assist ethnic
communities will be reduced. Ethnic communities will not have an
organisation that can properly support them within the Government.
The Government is doing this to attract the One Nation vote to its new
"Country Labor". It thinks ethnic communities will vote for Labor no matter
what the Carr Government does. The Ethnic Communities Council opposed the
name change for a year, but it was harassed by the Government. The
Commission withheld its funding in June, as punishment for opposing the
name change.
Please help us protect multiculturalism and the rights of ethnic
communities in NSW.
Yours Sincerely,
The Hon. Dr Peter Wong AM MLC
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