I just love how our existentialist Social engineers use construction and Utility language to explain their Nihilistic vision;

A few of my pet terminologies are; Diversity, in Utility this means it has a multi purpose and has a diverse range of applications to achieve a product; and The Nihilists interpretation it becomes Apartheid. Hmmmm. A bit of Psychology’s reverse polarity I must say.

The second is Tolerance; a beautiful word in construction when it comes to measure the mathematical stress points and load sharing abilities before a structure becomes unstable, and how much stress it can hold in ration to opposing negative forces
I must agree here, some social engineers must have had a premonition of what was to come. Nihilisms collapse of Civilization’s construction, and the ends of Reason.
Any questions?

Yes, All-, the same question most of us have been asking all along:

What, exactly, are these supposedly uniquely Australian values that we're wanting migrants to adopt?

Here’s a few of my own favorite “pet” terms, all from Bill’s article and the responses above:

what Australia stands for and believes in
the multicultural lobby
the forces of political correctness (PC)
Australian values
Shared set of values and beliefs
Core of unified values and beliefs
Assimilation and Integration
Survive and thrive
Shared view of what it means to be Australian
Cohesion
Stability
Common themes
Core (as opposed to non-core?) beliefs
Recipe for disaster
Certain agreed upon values
Reject the host nation’s values
Orwellian doublespeak
Ethnic industry
Destabilise society
Unnecessary troublemakers (with well paid jobs)
Core culture (derived from Anglo culture)
Colonised with little resistance from the original inhabitants
Move to a ghetto
Do not embrace the opportunity
Loopy left.........

.......Here boy!

Why has this debate arisen now, when the requirements that Howard mentions are already in place? Simple - there is a large increase in the intake of migrant workers to fill skill shortages within the Australian workforce. Whilst citizenship isnt an issue for these workers at the moment (some will stay, some will return home), new migrants with poor english skills in particular is currently a topical issue. So forget the so-called divisive political agenda, its just a common concern. Also forget that this is aimed at Muslims - its aimed at anyone who doesnt speak English as a native language. Hands up all those who have rung call-centres (for banks, phone companies, mail-order), or been rung by tele-marketers, and have to deal with someone with poor english skills and a strong accent. If this doesnt frustrate you, then my guess is you're a bit simple.

I dont think any expects that migrants (whether they become citizens or not) speak the Queen's english (perfect rounded vowels in a clipped accent). But the ability to communicate in an effective manner on a day to day basis is essential. I wouldnt dream of moving to another country without having a reasonable grip on the language before I went.

Being a tax adviser I have the unenviable job of attempting to explain our complex taxation laws to those moving to this country (lucky for me I live out in the country and am not faced with migrants too often). Let me tell you, its hard enough explaining basic tax concepts to a new migrant (I've had trouble explaining to a British migrant that here the govt wont let you claim a tax deduction for personal superannuation contributions). Its so very much harder when they have business interests in their country of origin, which will be taxed here, under completely different rules to what they are used to (in many cases on a completely different tax year), and then when they dont have a good grip on the english language, well!! Need I say any more!

I notice that other posters want to whinge about no-one being game to try and define the values that we should be teaching our migrants. Simple - we reserve the right to whinge about everything! We are a nation of whingers. Oh sure, we get on and get the job done at the end of the day, but we make sure we get a good whinge in about our boss, our job, "bloody migrants" taking our jobs, the weather, the rain (or lack of), high levels of pollution, not enough time.

We love our environment (oh sure we mistreat it often, but we love what our country is anyway), we take pride that we have never been subject to a civil war (most countries have at some stage in their history), we love our freedom to express our opinion (and whinge), we love the choices that we are allowed to make (where to live, where to send our kids to school, where to shop, take bus, walk, drive, ride). There are so many things that make our nation better than anywhere else in the world. We need to teach our history to our migrants and to our school children. They all need to know when our country has been to war and why, how our parliamentary system works (or not, depending on your beliefs), why we still feel a strong connection to the land despite 90% of the population living in cities. What built the nation into what it is today.

Neither multiculturalism nor assimilation works. The balance is much finer than that. Anyone who suggest otherwise is a simpleton. Too many differences, and we dont have a common thread, a common goal. Too much the same and we impinge on peoples freedoms. So we walk a tightrope, and hope that we get the balance right.

Have a listen to the words of John Williamson in True Blue. It can bring a tear to the eye. Try it somtime.

Here are some of my “values”:

Universal high quality public health care.

Universal high quality public education.

Adequate housing for EVERY person.

So, it would appear that I am at odds with the government, the economic system under which I am forced to live, and some of my fellow “Australian Citizens”.

The “values” debate is a diversion from the real issues.

The prime “value” expressed in our political system is the right to “profit” from the work of others, and accumulate obscene wealth while others have very little. Every other human “value” or need is essentially subjugated to this core “value”.

And it is not coincidental that the government is singling out Muslims as being at odds with our “Australian values” at the very same time that we are embarked on a murderous imperial quest to colonize the oil producing regions of the Muslim Middle East. How convenient that it is being highlighted to us how Muslims are less than “civilized” i.e. killing a few thousand of them won’t matter much, and certainly won’t affect our status as a “civilized” nation.

CountryGal and Steve Madden

I think you hit the point, but took the negative side of it.

The positive side to mentioning 'now' the idea of Australian Values which appear not to be much 'new' is perhaps part of a bigger but unspoken campaign to de-alienate, or..bring in the from the cultural cold, those who's ancestry and history and culture is signified in the various components of the Union Jack.

Rather than being 'divisive' it is rather promoting harmony and solidarity with the largest slice of the Australian population and seeking to embrace newcomers into that sense of Australian-ness which arose with the founding of the nation.

The current course and direction, as illustrated by some almost tragic statements in the DIMIA annual report where 'diversity' is celebrated and promoted, in fact is not a pathway to 'rich diversity' it is a recipe for Cultural Alienation of most Australians.

The 'Aussie/Digger' response to such beaurocratic codswallop in the past has been 'Lambing Flat' rebellion. (and more recently Cronulla.)

The diggers knew for a fact that the government was hamstrung by British treaties with the Chinese (out of guilt most likely for the opium wars) which allowed the free migration of Chinese to parts of the Empire. Australia was clearly regarded as 'culturally expendable' to the Crown of the day, but hey..wait a minute.. the blokes on the ground said.. NOOOO.. we don't wish to be culturally swamped by alien people, culture and language.

So, a number of them, drove the Chinese out of Lambing flat and fought the government over the issue.

Anytime when 'multicultural' foaming at the mouth occurs, it means that the actual unfolding of cultural alienation is being shrouded in cute words and flowery phrases designed to assuage public anger over the deliberate erosion of their identity.