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October 2007 Newsletter |
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Shameful scapegoating of African refugees |
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Editorial |
by Justin Li |
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 Dear readers
During the last month, the ECC of NSW, along with ECC (Vic), ECC (WA), and FECCA have all expressed dismay with the Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews' recent announcement to cut Australia's intake of African refugees.
Minister Andrews attributed his decision to the African refugees' problems in integrating into the country.
The ECC of NSW fully supports the views of the President of the Anti-Discrimination Board Mr Stepan Kerkyasharian AM on this issue.
In a statement released last week, Mr Kerkyasharian said:
"Since the official end of the White Australia policy, Australia has prided itself on the non-discriminatory nature of its immigration policy ... Mr Andrews, by his comments has introduced a quantum shift in the assessment of potential migrants in that, instead of assessing the individual and individual’s suitability to settle in Australia, we should now assess someone by way of race or country of origin. That is something that has never been done by any of his predecessors from either side of politics since the demise of the White Australia policy.
In fact to do so would surely amount to racial discrimination, because it would fit a classic description of race being the determinant characteristic of a decision, in other words it is the race which is being assessed and not the individual... Read more | |
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ECC meets with African Community Council |
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Established communities to help emerging communities |
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Above: NSW Ethnic Communities Council Chair Ted Quan with African Community Council President Makka Krubally and Secretary Hashim Elhassan
The ECC met with leaders of the African Community Council (ACC) last week to discuss ways in which older well-established migrant communities could provide more assistance to Australia's newer emerging African communities.
ECC Chair Ted Quan said: "Well established migrant communities must do all they can to help our newest Australians to settle into this country."
"Established communities remember the time when they were also poor and were in need of help, and the times when they were singled out and blamed unfairly for social problems."
"Since our new African migrants have not received adequate support from governments, it is up to established migrant communities to make up that short fall." said Mr Quan
During the meeting, ACC President Makka Krubally and Secretary Hashim Elhassan expressed their disappointment with the Federal Government's decision to cut the intake of African refugees. They pointed out that cuts to the funding of ACC in recent years have left them without a permanent office and have severely affected their ability to service the African communities in Sydney- the very services which help new arrivals to integrate. They also reported their communities experiencing more incidents of racism since the Federal Government's recent statements.
The ECC plans to implement some immediate practical initiatives to assist the African communities including:
-Sharing some of its office resources with the ACC which is currently without a permanent office; and
-Holding an information evening for newer African migrants to educate them of their rights to make complaints under the anti-discrimination laws in NSW, to be conducted by the ECC's legal adviser Ian Lacey AM.
Over the longer term, the ECC also plans to hold more ongoing consultations with the African community in Western Sydney and to encourage individual established communities to host functions to welcome new African migrants.
The ACC expressed its interest in cooperating with the ECC in future activities to assist the African communities.
For more information about the ACC, visit http://www.africancomcouncil.com/
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1st U.N. International Day of Non-violence |
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The 1st U.N. International Day of Non-violence was celebrated at Wynyard Park on 2 October 2007. Above from left to right: Gambhir Watts, President of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Australia & CRC Commissioner, Emeritus Professor Stuart Rees, the Hon. Sujan Chinoy, Consul General of India, the Hon. Virginia Judge MP, Abd Malak AM, Hon. President of FECCA, and Ted Quan, ECC Chair.
On 15 June 2007, United Nations General Assembly declared 2 October (Birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi) as International Day of Non-violence by a resolution moved by India and supported by 192 countries. This day was commemorated in Sydney by a special programme consisting of Music for harmony, presentations and peace songs performed by Kamahl.
The audience and the public were invited to participate in drumming for harmony and peace.
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Affinity Interfaith Award for Josie Lacey OAM |
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 Josie Lacey OAM, Executive Council of Australian Jewry, Jewish Board of Deputies, was the recipient of this year's Annual Affinity Award.
Affinity Intercultural Foundation is an organisation founded in 2001 by a group of young Australian Muslims specifically to promote cultural and religious awareness and understanding across the entire Australian community.
The Annual Affinity Awards have been presented since 2004 and "applauds outstanding contribution made to the understanding, appreciation and practise of interfaith dialogue by adding value in engaging others, involving people of one's own faith tradition and taking dialogue to new frontiers."
Past interfaith Dialogue award recipients have been:
2004 Bishop Kevin Manning - Bishop of the Parramatta Catholic Diocese
2005 Cardinal George Pell - Catholic Archbishop of Sydney
2006 Jim Mein - Moderator Uniting Church NSW Synod
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Cyprus Independence Day |
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Cyprus Independence Day was celebrated at the Cyprus Club on 1 October 2007 which was attended by many State and Federal members of Parliament, community leaders, and dignitaries.
The ECC was represented at the event by Ted Quan, ECC Chair, and Clarissa Mulas, Raymond Arraj, Paul Tsanis, and Justin Li, Vice Chairs.
Some photos from the event (courtesy of Raymond Arraj):
Cyprus Club President Michael Christodoulou addresses guests
Ted Quan and Raymond Arraj with the Hon. Phillip Ruddock MP
Dance performance
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ECC helps Chinese restaurants save 72 mega litres of Sydney water |
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 The Chinese restaurant community has replaced 61 of their water guzzling stoves with 'waterless' wok stoves with assistance from the Ethnic Communities Council of NSW's Saving Water in Asian Restaurants Project. This action has saved an average of 3,260 litres of water a day.
With funding from the NSW Government's Climate Change Fund and Wollongong City Council, the ECC has been working with the Chinese community to save water in Chinese restaurants.
The project has successfully saved 72 million litres of water, the amount of water used to fill 48 Olympic sized pools each year. This has saved the restaurants an average of $2,185 per stove each year on their water costs.
The ECC hopes to have 69 stoves replaced by the end of the program saving 81.6 mega litres. However that is only the amount of water saved that we can measure. The manager of a large Sydney Chinese restaurant said that the 'waterless' wok stoves are a continual reminder to the staff that we need to save water in the kitchen.
The ECC has been given additional funds to continue the work with the Chinese community and expand it into the Thai and Vietnamese restaurant communities who also use traditional wok stoves in Sydney and the Illawarra.
NSW Minister assisting the Minister for Environment, Hon Verity Firth MP launched the expansion of the project on 13 September 2007, saying it was an innovative approach to reducing water use.
"I commend the Ethnic Communities Council for their commitment to this project and the Chinese community for embracing the project and saving water. I encourage restaurants to support the continuation of the project and save more water I also encourage customers to look for the sign indicating that the restaurant is cooking on a 'waterless' wok stove." Ms Firth said. "As well as benefiting restaurants it is of great value to the community and the environment."
14 Sydney restaurants were presented with awards by the Minister at the launch. Their participation in the project and their effort to save water is highly appreciated by the NSW government and the community.
Speaking at the launch, new ECC Chair Ted Quan told the audience that the project is a win win for both restaurant owners and the environment. "It is always a joyous occasion to be able to save money," he said "but it is even more joyous to be able to do something for the environment at the same time." Read more | |
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Section 457 visas- Modern day legal slavery |
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The Chinese Community Council of Australia has condemned the abuse of the use of the section 457 visas by some employers as recently reported by the media.
CCCA President Dr Anthony Pun OAM said "The temporary worker visa subclass 457 is a good tool for supplementing labour shortages in Australia. However the abuse of this visa is growing and usually the worker becomes the victim of unscrupulous employers."
"The 457 visa has become modern legalised slavery, and the slave masters are getting away with it. Disposed slaves are at the mercy of authorities in Australia and with little or no recourse. Some slaves have even attempted suicide. These slave drivers give a bad name to the spirit of the 457 visa and it would be a pity to get rid of it because of a few miserable slave owners."
"Introducing audit regulations to the 457 visa, legal relief or the use of an ombudsman is only curing the symptoms but gives no relief to the
cause of the misery."
"As the old saying goes "Prevention is better than cure. Hence the root cause is the lack of information to the intended 457 worker about Australian working conditions. As a preventive measure, our overseas missions should issue to prospective 457 applicants, an information sheet in their language, about their rights, their employer's obligations, working conditions and complaint mechanism before they grant a 457 visa. As a deterrent, unscrupulous employers should be made to pay for the expenses in repatriating their workers to their home country as well as any wages unpaid and sufferance." Dr Pun said.
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ECC receives Chinese delegation |
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On 8 October 2007, members of ECC Management and Executive received a visit from a 17 member delegation from China. They were representatives of local government from 4 major Chinese provinces seeking to explore ways to build a harmonious community.
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Upcoming community events |
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World Culture Concert & Arts Festival
18 October 2007 Sydney Town Hall 6.30 - 9.30pm
Experience traditional folk dances & music from around the world by Australian artists.
For tickets, go to www.worldculture.com.au
Diversity Management Leadership Program
Applications close: 19th October 2007
There are a total of 10 programs dates set over an 8 month period. For more information go to: www.mdaa.org.au
Cultural Competence Training in Dubbo, Bathurst and Newcastle
The workshop aims to enhance the cultural competence of people who work with people with disability, with the expected outcome of higher quality service to people from non-English speaking backgrounds with disability and their carers.
Dubbo on the 5th Nov
Bathurst on the 6th of Nov
Newcastle on the 6th December
For more information go to: www.mdaa.org.au/service/industry/countyr.html
Human Rights Arts and Film Festival
The festival aims to promote music, film, design, performance & visual art to address contemporary Australian human rights issues. Enjoy a range of films, fashion, Photography and much more. For more information, visit www.hraff.org.au
Sydney Dates
December 6th @ Chauvel Cinema, Paddington Town Hall Cnr Oxford St & Oatley Rd, Sydney
Arts Exhibition: Chauvel Cinema Gallery
Documentary Australia Foundation and Philanthropy Australia
Launch of the Documentary Australia Foundation
This is a private initiative established to create partnerships between philanthropic grant makers, charitable organisations and documentary filmmakers.
Sydney Launch:
Wednesday October 24th, Sydney Theater, Hickson Road, Walsh Bay @ 6pm for 6:30pm-8:30pm
RSVP essential via email: rsvp@documentaryaustralia.com.au
Australian Domestic & Family Violence Clearinghouse
Diverse and Inclusive Practice: Redrawing the Boundaries, Domestic Violence, Disability and Cultural Safety
National Forum 2007
November 8th-9th, 2007 @ Novotel Brighton Beach, Brighton-Le-Sands, NSW, Australia
For register and costs go to: https://www.secureregistrations.com/ADFVNOV/
Anti-Discrimination Act 30th Anniversary Celebration
Tuesday 23 October 12 - 2 pm
Martin Place: Community event with social justice theatre performance and cake
Thursday 25 October 5.30 - 6.30 pm
Parliament House of NSW, Sydney: Formal commemoration with canapés. RSVP Penelope_Lake@agd.nsw.gov.au or 9268 5562
Tuesday 30 October 1 - 5 pm
The Koori Centre, Sydney University: Forum on the NSW Anti-Discrimination Act
A collaboration between the Koori Centre at Sydney University and the Anti-Discrimination Board of NSW. Come to both sessions or just one!
WHERE: Room 215, Old Teachers’ College Building
PROGRAM and SPEAKERS:
1.00 - 2.30pm: Thirty Years of the NSW Anti-Discrimination Act: Where to Now?
Mr Ken Davis - President, Pride History Group
Dr Suzanne Jamieson - ADB Board, Lecturer in Industrial Relations, University of Sydney
Ms Chris Ronalds SC - Barrister, Frederick Jordan Chambers, first lawyer at the ADB in 1977
Ms Joanna Shulman - Principal Solicitor, NSW Disability Discrimination Legal Centre
Dr Belinda Smith - Lecturer in Anti-Discrimination Law, University of Sydney
2.30: LUNCH and cake
3.30 – 5.00pm: The NSW Anti-Discrimination Act - Indigenous issues
Hon. Linda Burney MP - Minister for Fair Trading, Minister for Youth, Minister for Volunteering
Mr Tony McAvoy - Barrister, Frederick Jordan Chambers
Mr Warren Mundine - Chief Executive Officer, NSW Native Title Services
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