We must remember that cultural diversity is not only about racism and folk from other lands. How can Australia be a truly pluralistic society when neither the indigenous nor the disabled has a minister designated exclusively for their issues in the new cabinet?

Ah I love the smell of self interest groups all outlining "what should be done".

We're clearly now going to see a pile on of groups all trying to vie for a place at the trough.

What about .. xyz, or that or this .. I didn't get enough (of taxpayers money)

As long as you include some of that well worked mantra of the left (with their hands held out, and lots of free advice) "the Howard did .. or did not" insert favored whine here..

What's up folks, didn't find yourselves important during the Rudd years? You all thought he was the massiah, now we just gloss over that time, like this article does and tries to park all problems with the previous government.

When you say measured debate, I can see you mean not about whether there is a need for such multicultural funding, or whether we want it - you seem to think, that's a given position. Much like other "debates" of the progressives, it starts with a prerequisite that everyone agrees and it's only down to how much money is involved and which people are ordained to be the carriers of the money bags for distribution of "other people's wealth, i.e. the taxpayer"

Does the average taxpayer get a voice in this debate?

I thought not.

It's obvious all the (self) interest groups think there are buckets of money available since we have a "progressive" government and everyone is trying to beat everyone else to the shovels!

Prof.Jakubowicz hasn't explained why Australia needs a 'multicultural policy' administered by the government. Liberal democratic nations are intrinsically multicultural by virtue of of their democratic institutions. What are the parameters and limitations of 'multiculturalism',where is this explained by its advocates? I presume that the promoters of multicultural policies are not planning for a mosaic of separate, self-governing communities on the Ottoman model.What is the model anyway?
Why do we need legislation to enshrine "individual freedom of cultural identity",whatever that is? Governments have, of course, have an obligation to legislate against racial discrimination,however multiculturalist policies sound more like attempts at social engineering,leave us alone.

golden days of multicultural lobby are hopefully over.

As previous comment noted, our political system has enough freedom for varied cultures to uphold their needs and wants. We, as Australians, are embracing the positive features of many cultures into our own national makeup.

We also have political leaders now (or hopefully) the wiser for recent experiences around the world to know that the balance between cultural rights and unity is complex with only a naive govt likely to gain woo votes by raving on about each culture's rights as the multicultural lobby do.

What, more of the multicultural 'initiatives' that have put so many holes in the bucket of public revenue that it leaks like a colander? Yes, that would be a certain recipe for a change in government and soon.

The federal government needs to urgently review the Seventies and Eighties policies that led to a flourishing victim industry in Australia and return to the circumstance where only the truly vulnerable, such as the disabled, are given assistance (but where assistance is given it is not done meanly). As any HR manager would observe, there are so many so-called disadvantaged groups with their elbows out for preference in recruitment and advancement that the disabled, who do not have powerful lobby groups acting for them, are forever missing out and they shouldn't be.

Multicultural interests do not need more government funded assistance, for some time they have been a powerful tail wagging the government dog for advantage and benefits. To be fair, the same can be said of government funding for women's 'issues'.

@Mac,
Professor Jakubowicz is paid to produce this type of information, if he doesn't come up with the goods he'll lose his job.
The link offered in the first paragraph as justification for his views shows the true point of this wall of text.
How dare people be against interracial marriage!
How dare they value their Race over others!
"Racism" is a values system like any other, if it isn't then it doesn't exist.