Multiculturalism as it is seen by Canberra’s politicians, researchers and community leaders will be put under the microscope at a Question and Answer Panel organised by the Canberra Multicultural Community Forum on Tuesday, October 7.
CMCF Chair Sam Wong said the Question and Answer event, at the Hellenic Club in Woden, is the first of its kind involving multiculturalism in the ACT and, with a strong representation of local politicians on the panel, is a good opportunity for Canberra people to assess the views of the parties.
“The assumption has always been that multiculturalism is a bipartisan issue in the ACT, but that doesn’t mean the parties don’t have different perceptions of what it means,” he said.
“We are trying to recreate the atmosphere of an old fashioned town hall meeting with questions being asked from the floor and answered and debated by the panel members. It will be grass roots politics at its most effective.”
Panel participants will be the Minister for Multicultural Affairs, John Hargreaves; the Leader of the Opposition, Zed Seselja; Labor candidate for Ginninderra and President of the Indigenous Dentists Association of Australia, Dr Chris Bourke; Associate Professor in Public Policy, School of Management and Policy, University of Canberra, Dr Jenny Stewart; the Chief Executive of the ACT and Region Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Chris Peters and a member of the ACT Muslim Advisory Council, Sally Kalek.
Mr Wong said the panel represented a good cross section of the Canberra community including politics, the professions, business and the multicultural community.
“Ross Solly, from ABC Radio, has agreed to be the host and while admission is free, we do ask people to let us know if they are coming because we are expecting a full house.”
The CMCF Question and Answer session will be held in the Olympus Room of the Hellenic Club on Tuesday, October 7 at 7pm for a 7.30pm start. Those planning to attend can register by emailing secretary@cmcf.org.au by October 3.
People who cannot be there but who would like to ask questions should email them to secretary@cmcf.org.au by October 5. Representatives of the media are welcome to attend.