australian multiculturalism
...igration. The greatest difference is the number of people born in Asian countries. All Asian countries show an increase of 35% or more, which is a significant increase when compared to other countries. This displays the shift of priorities in immigration policy. As far as percentage of the population born overseas is concerned there is very little difference between Australia’s ethnic diversity at the beginning and the end of the 20th century. What has happened over the course of the 20th century is that the spread of countries of origin has become much more evenly distributed. Instead of 75% of immigrants being born in a European country, there is a much greater and more inclusive range of ethnic backgrounds. From this it can be assumed that Australia is composed of numerous cultural groups. This does not mean that Australia is a multicultural society. It means that the population of Australia includes people who were born in many different countries, and therefore come from many different cultures. Whether or not these people maintain their cultural practices and have the support and opportunities to maintain their cultural traditions determines whether or not Australia deserves to be labelled as multicultural. Vasta’s (1993: 212-3) definition of multicultural includes “social policies which assumes government responsibilities for removing structural disadvantages and implementing policies which ensure equity and access.” Whether this has or is happening is debatable. As an example the ‘China Town’ trend that is creeping through Australia has been touted as advancing Australia’s cultural diversity. What is in fact resulting is “cultural ghettoism” (Anderson 1993: 68). Not only do the ‘China Towns’ help to “polarise and oppose i...