The thread has become a fusion of two issues: that of a fairy tale and that of the policy of multiculturalism. I have already given my response to the fairy tale "non-issue." It is, IMHO, still nothing more than an effort by the publishers to protract the advertising (and thus sales) of their new version of the tale. It was noted that the "so called discriminatory" comments about muslims and bricklayers were only one of the reasons this particular agency gave for not rewarding shoofly the prize and that it was shoofly who widely published this contracted view. The agency said that the shoofly version of the fly just didn't measure up to their standards of the prize. As for multiculturalism, I'm posting here the efforts by Al Grassby to introduce it. One can only but applaud these efforts and certainly the intentions behind them. The White Australia policy was in the process of dismantling and when Grassby turned up, he had buried it once and for all. I'm proud to say that in 1976, Mrs At and I (freshly married) had a very memorable dinner in a restaurant in Athens with Mr and Mrs Grassby, hosted by the then, new Minister of Education in Greece (alas, I've forgotten his name). We had kid casserole on that night and a quitarist was asked by the Greek Minister to serenade Mrs At. The next day six or seven of us (excluding Mrs Grassby) met at Al's hotel and chatted enthusiastically about the two Labor Parties and their policies. Al impressed us all about his view of humans and the need to make hand-to-hand contact with each other rather than hand-to-hand combat. By then, of course, Fraser had taken the reins here in Oz but that's another story. One things that needs to be reminded is that all policies are "for the taking and slaughtering" by successive governments. Al's policies suffered just that same fate but much of what he believed then is still in the minds, at least, and in the rhetoric of our current politicians. The other thing we need to remember is that policies are one thing but their implementation is another. So far as I'm concerned my view of multiculturalism does not detract anything from my view of a strong, Democratically run nation, based in a Parliament with an efficient Administration and the fairest possible Judiciary.
The Hon Al Grassby is best known as the Australian Federal Minister for Immigration from 1972 to 1974 who initiated extensive reforms in immigration, citizenship and human rights legislation. Albert Jaime Grassby was born in Brisbane in 1926. His parents were of Spanish and Irish descent. His paternal grandfather Jaime Grass was a fisherman from Malaga in Spain who had great adventures in South America and arrived in Brisbane towards the end of the nineteenth century. He sold race horses and changed his name to Grassby which he thought sounded suitably Irish. As a child Al spent long periods overseas where he acquired an understanding and empathy with different cultures. This experience was probably the catalyst for his later career in humanitarian issues and international affairs. Mr Grassby initially followed a career in journalism before entering politics in 1965 as the Member for Murrumbidgee in the New South Wales Parliament. He served as Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Conservation between1968 and 1969. In October 1969 he won a seat in the Federal House of Representatives as the Labor Member for Riverina. When Labor won the election in 1972 he was again elected and became Minister for Immigration in the new Whitlam government. As Minister he introduced wide ranging reforms in the areas of immigration, emigration, citizenship and services to Australians from non-English speaking backgrounds. During his tenure in office major reforms included: The right to remain in Australia for overseas students on the successful completion of their studies and when their services were sought by an Australian employer. The right of parents of Australian born children to remain in Australia. In announcing this Grassby said "We must stop making war on children" Granting passage assistance to Vietnamese orphans coming to Australia and later extending to orphans from any country. Removal of limitations in the amount of non-English language programming on radio and television. Exclusion of racially selected sporting teams from Australia. Decision to apply new non-discriminatory procedures for selection of migrants and issue of tourist visas. Repeal of Section 64 of the Migration Act 1958-1966, the last of the old discriminations against Aboriginal Australians, which required them to seek special permission to leave the country. Establishment of a new series of migrant education centres in State capitals to provide facilities for migrant instruction and a focal point of the migrant education program in each State. Establishment of Community Relations Committee of the Immigration Advisory Council to enquire into the discrimination against, and exploitation of, migrants and the use or non-use by migrants of community services. Development of a home tutoring scheme particularly to reach migrant women at home, using voluntary tutors and a home tutoring kit based on a kit used in Great Britain, but adapted to Australian requirements. Amendment of the Aliens Act 1947-1966 to eliminate the annual notification of Address, occupation and marital status by aliens. Rise of persons granted Australian citizenship from 38,402 in 1972 to 57,102 in 1973, an increase of 48.7%. Australia's first amnesty for illegal immigrants. Amendment of the aliens registration policy to remove restrictions on the changes of names by aliens. While he was Minister for Immigration he became famous for wearing highly colourful ties. He recently told The Age newspaper,
"The ties came with the Whitlam government because I decided that we were liberated from a dull and colourless past to a new and colourful Australia. And it just went from there."
In 1974 Mr Grassby was appointed by the government as the first Commissioner for Community Relations and undertook an important role in administering the Racial Discrimination Act 1975. At the launch of the Office of the Commissioner for Community Relations the Prime Minister, Gough Whitlam said
"The Racial Discrimination Act wrote it firmly into the legislation that Australia is in reality a multicultural nation, in which the linguistic and cultural heritage of the Aboriginal people and of peoples from all parts of the world can find an honoured place. ...For the first time Australia affirmed its opposition to all forms of racial discrimination...The Act, inadequate as it is in many respects, is still the best guarantee that Australians have ever had that the dark forces of bigotry and prejudice which have prevailed so often in the past will never again be able to exercise influences far greater than their numbers in the community."
Mr Grassby has had a lifelong interest in humanitarian and multicultural issues and has published on a wide range of associated subjects. He has negotiated numerous international trade agreements and associations and has received many awards and honours for his work including the Order of Australia in 1985 and the UN Peace Medal in 1986.
