Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to examine ethnic policies at a state level in Australia. It investigates how multiculturalism has been functioning in the state of New South Wales(NSW). NSW is used as the case study since it has been progressive in developing multicultural policy through initiatives set in place by its Ethnic Affairs Commission. Some of the policies initiated by the Ethnic Affairs Commision have been regarded as the most progressive in Australia even more progressive than federal government policies. The report "Participation" on how ethnic people had encounted difficulties in accessing public services and information was the start of NSW's trial at multiculturalism in 1978. The Premier of NSW had also made the speech "Mainstreaming" on the same topic as "Participation" in 1983. This speech has effected a series of reforms of state government organisations. The reforming of state organisations has been guided by the Ethnic Affairs Policy Statement released in 1983. This was the first attempt in Australia at reforming government organisations to make sure ethnic people have equal accesss to public services. However, the ethnic policies led by the Ethnic Affairs Commission have not always been successful. The Ethnic Affairs Policy Statement has not been greatly welcomed by state organisations. The next step to promote multicultural policy by the Ethnic Affairs Commission was the NSW Charter of Principles for a Culturally Diverse Society. It required every organisation of the state government to scrutinise itself and make changes to realize the ideal of multiculturalism. This Charter was very well received when it was issued because no other so clearly had stated principles to enshrine multiculturalism in Australia. However, ethnic groups supposed to have benefited from the Charter have complained about the Charter because they consider the Charter to be just written idealism. It is not a law and cannot belegally enforced. Legal enforcements require clear evidence for the matter to receive a court judgement. But judgements and evidence are related to standards and values, which vary in a culturally diverse society. In this sense, the Charter is more reasonable because it depends on an organisation's self judgement about the ideal. It is likely to be more effective than laws which need limiting conditions to work. Although it is just a written idea and is considerably vague, the Charter allows some freedom of understanding. It is most important that individuals be able to assume and embrace the ideal of multiculturalism. On this count, the Charter for a multicultural society is considered a most appropriate policy vehicle for achieving Multiculturalism.
