There is some indication that Australian
intergroup relations are improving, but
the process as the author indicates still
has a long way to go. In the past it was
always desirable to maintain modified
English institutions, language, and culture
as the dominant standard in Australian life.
In practice, "assimilation" historically
always meant Anglo-conformity. In the past
decades we've had a series of distinct
but coexisting groups, each preserving their
own tradition and culture, but each loyal
to broader national unity. This has resulted
in a high degree of cultural pluralism.

Current indications are that for the foreseeable
future at least, Australian race and ethnic
relations will be conducted primarily within a
pluralist framework. Pursuit of cultural
pluralism can be a dangerous course, however, for
it presumes some degree of ethnocentrism on the
part of the participating groups, and it can
provide a workable solution only if it is based on
equality, respect, and interdependence.

But if Australians can achieve that, then finally,
after several centuries, the question of "Australia
racist?" may be resolved.

[Deleted for profanity].

@stevenlmeyer your examples of (the former) Yugoslavia, Lebanon and Turkey are all countries that aren't really multicultural in the Australian sense. They are countries that have two or three cultures sometimes forced together who have very long histories that have included political, cultural and religious disagreement and war. I'd be hopeful that these cultures may find peaceful ways to coexist but the issues faced in those countries are quite different to what is faced in Australia I think.
However, I have wondered if the Anglo cultural and population dominance (and the Anglo perception of such) does act to keep some racial problems in check in Australia (and the U.S, Canada). I mean this in the sense that the dominant culture may just 'tolerate' cultures while they feel they are not 'threatened' by them. It would be interesting to see what might happen if that dominance is ever challenged. Indeed, in some ways it already is being challenged as the economic and social benefit of being multiracial and multilingual has already been noted in some research. Perhaps this has been the cause of some racial stress as particularly working and lower middle class people have struggled to maintain job security in a global economy. Many post-war migrant communities are now on to third and fourth generations and are starting to experience the same social problems of the wider community that the first generation largely avoided as a result of traditional cultural values and a new-migrant work ethic. This may perhaps add to whatever Anglo perceptions exist that multiculturalism is a bad thing even though the 'migrants' are in fact born and bred Australians.
The U.S may be the first to experience this as I believe Hispanics are on track to outnumber Caucasians sometime this century. If a balance of power change takes place, or if it doesn't, then there is potential for greater racial problems. All the more reason to keep working on the wealth, education and health issues that are among the root causes of racism.

Australia is probably no more or less racist than anywhere else really. Why is it so bad to be racist anyway? If foreign folks moved in nearby and made a big fuss about how their way is the only way, and refused to change their ways to fit in here, who could blame the people for being a bit peeved about it?

Example, Bankstown. Used to be a working class Aussie suburb. The number of muslims living there wanted a mosque, and so a huge minarette is constructed with loudspeakers blaring out the call to prayer five times a day. If you were one of the original working class Aussies, you'd be a bit racist too.

Another example, aborigines. Those most accepting and keen to apologise for all the awful things in the past (they were indeed awful), almost never live near any aboriginal people. Those considered least tolerant and most racist, often deal with them on a daily basis.

In the past, immigrants have wanted to fit right in. Presently, as in the rest of society it is all about the individual getting the best deal for themselves. Why would it be racist to simply ask prospective migrants "Do you really want to move here? we dont follow religion that much, girls wear bikinis, we drink beer and watch the footy"...

Of course, there is an element of racism in the community. As there is with all communities.

All things in this world are relative however. Before pointing the finger at Australia, there's a few things I'd like to point out.

First, can you name countries less racist than Australia? Once upon a time, England perhaps though the recent backlash against immigration would tend to negate that. Same goes for a number of Scandinavian countries.

Japan? Immigration isn't even permitted. China? Same goes. I've been somewhat disturbed by the number of Chinese people I've met who make negative generalizations about black people. India? Look no further than the caste system. A fair number of nations throughout the middle east are doing their damnedest to wage war on their minorities and it's not exactly a poster-area for multi-faith cooperation, so I don't think we're about to call them poster-children for cooperation.

That leaves the US, which ironically tends to be accused the most of causing harm due to their superpower status. I'd say the US is probably the only country that is less racist than Oz, given their long history of immigration (and yes, despite certain attitudes prevalent in the south of the country).

Australia racist? Compared to who?

TRTL - agreed, if that's the focus of the article, that we are less racist than many other countries, no problem.

but rather than always trying to find the level of our racism amongst other countries, like a league table, which doesn't help us solve anything, let's stop bringing in more racism

clearly many of the people immigrating to Australia bring not only their racism with them, but also their intolerance - they even send "back home" for wives, rather than amongst their new country folk .. i.e. Lebanese. How is that contributing to their new country - they want nothing to do with the people here at all, any of us.

As we try to improve, then we bring other countries into the mix, like Somalis who mostly struggle to fit it. It's no fun for them getting here to find, that it's not the wonderland they thought it would be. yes, many people who are refugees and immigrants want to get out of where they are - more so than fitting in where they are going it seems.

It's always going to be a work in progress .. but I don't think there will ever be complete acceptance

Maybe that's the way it is, multiculturalism is a failed experiment, we're just unfortunate we're a part of it.

Like Slobodan Milosevic said, some people are like cats and dogs, if you put them in the same box, they'll kill each other. He might have been a lot of things, but he knew people.