Legislative Council: Thursday, May 01, 2008

Contents

MULTICULTURALISM

The Hon. S.G. WADE (15:04): I ask the minister to clarify what she was referring to when she said that the council 'will include cultures other than ethnic origin'. Is she referring to subcultures such as the Goths or cultures in relation to sexual preference? What is the minister referring to when she says multiculturalism is no longer going to be limited to ethnic origin?

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO (Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Road Safety, Minister Assisting the Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (15:05): When we talk about multicultural affairs we are referring to people of cultural diversity. What I mean, of course, is that for multiculturalism to be successful it needs to go outside ethnic origins. That is why we talk about it being featured in something like the Christmas Pageant, the Australia Day parade or the ANZAC Day Eve Youth Vigil. It needs to encompass the whole community otherwise it will not be successful.