The Federal Government ignores the majority and embraces the minority:
Gillard backs NRL star as racial adviser
Jessica Wright
August 28, 2011
[RUGBY LEAGUE'S ''favourite son'', Hazem El-Masri, has been given a glowing endorsement by the Prime Minister for his leadership within the Australian-Muslim community.]
[The federal government announced ''The People of Australia Ambassadors'' program last week. Up to 40 people will be selected as ambassadors.]
More on the "ambassadors" at
"Sydney Morning Herald"
People of Australia Ambassadors Program is part of the
Australian Multicultural Council, a prophetic attempt to alloy iron with clay (
Daniel 2:41)
Australian Multicultural Council (AMC)
A joint media release to announce the establishment of the new council and the 'People of Australia Ambassadors' Program has been issued.
Monday, 22 August 2011
Joint Media Release with Julia Gillard - Prime Minister of Australia, Chris Bowen MP - Minister for Immigration and Citizenship and Senator Kate Lundy - Parliamentary Secretary for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs
The Gillard Labor Government today launched a new local ambassadors program to champion inclusion and highlight the benefits of Australia’s diversity.
The
People of Australia Ambassadors program was formally announced by Prime Minister Julia Gillard today at the launch of the new independent Australian Multicultural Council.
The Prime Minister encouraged Australians to nominate local champions from their own neighbourhood and communities who have helped to promote inclusion and participation in their community.
Up to 40 people will be selected as ambassadors to provide grassroots advice to the Australian Multicultural Council (AMC) about effective initiatives which promote inclusion and leverage diversity in our communities.
The AMC will provide advice to government on multicultural policy and emerging issues and ensure Australian Government services respond effectively to the needs of Australia’s diverse communities.
The council was appointed as part of the government’s new multicultural policy,
The People of Australia, released in February this year.
The former advisory council recommended the new independent body be set up to advise and consult the government on multicultural issues and inform national policy.
The 10-member council will have a formal role in a strengthened access and equity strategy, play a research advisory role for public policy, and lead cultural diversity celebrations and Harmony Day activities.
The launch of the new AMC demonstrates the Gillard Labor Government’s commitment to policy and programs that build on the strength of Australia’s cultural diversity.
The new council will provide a strong voice on multicultural issues and contribute constructively to the broader deliberations of government.
Information in relation to the AMC and the
People of Australia Ambassadors program can be found at the AMC website.
See: www.amc.gov.au
Background
Members of the Australian Multicultural Council (AMC)
10 members (including one youth member) and two ex officio members
Judge Rauf Soulio (Chair) (SA)
Judge of the District Court of South Australia
Judge Soulio is President of the Football Federation of South Australia and the current chair of the Migrant Resource Centre of South Australia. He was recently appointed to the Council for the Order of Australia. He is on the judging panel of the Governor’s Multicultural Awards program and chair of State Government Sporting Advisory Committees. In 2003, he was appointed as Honorary Consul-General for Albania in Australia and is active in the Albanian community. Judge Soulio was the deputy chair of the Australian Multicultural Advisory Council until the completion of the council’s term in June 2011.
Ms Gail Ker OAM (Deputy Chair) (QLD)
CEO, Logan and Beenleigh Migrant Resource Centre (ACCES Services) and vice chair, Settlement Council of Australia
Ms Ker has worked extensively in multicultural affairs positions and is presently a board member of the Ethnic Communities Council in Queensland. She has been actively involved in labour market programs such as SkillShare, and played a key role in developing and leading a community-based non-government organisation in Logan, Queensland. Ms Ker was a member of the Australian Multicultural Advisory Council from January 2009 until its end in June 2011.
Dr Tanveer Ahmed (NSW)
Psychiatrist and opinion columnist for the Sydney Morning Herald
Dr Tanveer Ahmed is a psychiatrist, author and opinion columnist at the Sydney Morning Herald. He is the author of
The Exotic Rissole, and has present and past involvement in several boards, including the Australian Medical Association, the Advertising Standards Board and as a Governor of the Smith Family. Dr Ahmed manages a private practice with an interest in transcultural clients both in western Sydney and Armidale in rural New South Wales. He is of Bangladeshi ancestry.
Dr Hass Dellal OAM (VIC)
Executive director, Australian Multicultural Foundation
Dr Dellal has considerable experience in multicultural affairs and sits on several boards, including the National Centre of Excellence for Islamic Studies Consultative Committee; International Steering Committee, International Metropolis Project (Canada); deputy chair of the Victoria Police Multifaith Council; and chair of the Centre for Multicultural Youth. He is deputy chair of the SBS board and was a member of the Australian Multicultural Advisory Council from January 2009 until its end in June 2011.
Ms Carmel Guerra (VIC)
Chief executive officer of the Centre for Multicultural Youth
Ms Guerra was founder of the Centre for Multicultural Youth, a community-based organisation in Melbourne that advocates for the needs of young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds. She received the Centenary Medal in 2003 for services to young people, migrant and refugee communities, and was entered into the Victorian Women’s Honour role for services to the community in 2005. Ms Guerra has been a member of the Refugee Resettlement and Advisory Council since its inception.
Dr Tim Soutphommasane (VIC)
Research fellow at Monash University's National Centre for Australian Studies
Dr Soutphommasane is a research fellow at Monash University’s National Centre for Australian Studies and a senior project leader at
Per Capita, a think tank. He is also a fellow at St James Ethics Centre. Dr Soutphommasane is a columnist with the
Weekend Australian and author of
Reclaiming Patriotism (2009). He completed his doctorate at the University of Oxford.
Mr Peter Wertheim AM (NSW)
Executive director, Executive Council of Australian Jewry
Mr Wertheim was a practising solicitor for more than 30 years, consultant to law firm Slater and Gordon, and is the executive director of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry. He was honorary solicitor for the East Timor Relief Association, the Australian International Fund for Disadvantaged Children in Vietnam, and Aboriginal Medical Service Co-operative, Redfern NSW.
Prof Samina Yasmeen (WA)
Director of the Centre for Muslim States and Societies and Professor of Political Science and International Relations at the University of Western Australia
Professor Yasmeen is a specialist in political and strategic development in South Asia, the role of Islam in world politics, and citizenship among immigrant women. She was a member of the Australian Multicultural Advisory Council from January 2009 until its end in June 2011. Professor Yasmeen was granted the Sir Roland Wilson Leadership Award as part of the WA Citizen of the Year awards in 2011.
Mr Talal Yassine OAM (NSW)
Founder and managing director, Crescent Investments Australasia Pty Limited, Director Sydney Ports, Director the Whitlam Institute Limited, Deputy Chairman, Gulf Australia Business Council Ltd
Mr Yassine has held a number of executive and non executive roles during his career. He was a director of Babcock & Brown Limited, director/lawyer at PricewaterhouseCoopers and a Solicitor in the Corporate Practice at Dunhill Madden Butler.
Youth Member:
Ms Yassmin Abdel-Magied (QLD)
President, Youth Without Borders (Qld)
Ms Abdel-Magied is the founder of
Youth Without Borders and a mechanical engineering student at the University of Queensland. She is a member of the Queensland Museum, the Queensland Design Council and the Youth Affairs Network Queensland. Ms Abdel-Magied was Young Australian Muslim of the Year for 2007, Youth Premier at the 2008 Queensland Youth Parliament and the Vice President (Policy) for the UN Youth Association of Australia. In 2010, she was named Young Queenslander of the Year.
Ex Officio Members:
Mr Andrew Metcalfe
Secretary of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship
Dr Helen Szoke
Race Discrimination Commissioner
People of Australia Ambassadors Program
[As part of Australia's new multicultural policy, the Prime Minister has announced the Australian Multicultural Council will appoint 40 People of Australia Ambassadors.
Ambassadors will champion inclusion and provide 'grass roots' input to the Australian Multicultural Council and to Government.
Ambassadors will be appointed for a 12 month period and have key roles in annual community events and celebrations for Harmony Day on 21 March.]
Mystery Babylon