There is absolutely nothing to say the very mild requirement of immigrants having to learn English and something of the Australian history and culture will in any way assist in the ‘integrating of migrants into our community’. It hasn’t worked for those who have sensibly done these things, on their own, for their own benefit. My bet is that immigrants will comply, as they must, but will stay within their tribes as they have always done, apart from in individual cases. Multiculturalism is an official policy designed to encourage difference. There is no encouragement, by any political party in Australia, for assimilation.

Academics, politicians, their advisers, and other would-be puppet masters of society know diddlysquat about the real population; most of us stick to our own kind, and mix with other cultures only at work.

There is really nothing in it for we of the hoi polloi to get worked up about. We are still able to live our own lives despite the manipulators. We just need to keep our own counsel and be aware of the tricks politicians and their advisers they are trying to pull. The time might come when we have to say a big ‘boo’ to our ‘masters’, but there is precedent for them going to water when and if we do. Multiculturalism has holes in it. Some sectors are working on the sale of Telstra. Sale of the iconic Snowy Scheme was dropped. When people become irritated enough by multiculturalism, unchecked immigration etc. they will also die a natural death.

Provided, of course, that we ignore the sinister plotters and hang on to our democracy

Surely this effort, defining citizenship, couched in the manner of the agony aunt pages, with the parties vying to make a better all round list, is an exercise in not only mendacity but diversion.

Keep the eye on patriotic symbols, warm fuzzy debates. Propose means of making people promise to abide by rules and patriotic fervour not plant bombs.Every one will be tempted to have a say.

In part this is what it is about making us feel relaxed and comfortable. This particularly now the predicted outcome of more terrorists resulting from Iraq/Afghanistan, the idea Kelty proposed and was told to but out, awhile back, is coming true.

Much better to raise interesting debates, even when the subject matter only promises more of “We will say who comes here”, than worry about Iraq, terrorists that would not be increased in number by our involvement in Iraq, wheat board scandals and shifting trade portfolios.

Untut... we got bombed by Terrorists before Iraq.

As for the Cica article it is a farce. As have been several she has written on similar themes.

The values debate is required but what really needs to be debated is Multiculturalism and it's impact on our society. We already have people signing up for values to become Australians and it's quite apparent that these are ignored by many migrants.

We already have a discriminatory immigration policy (even if some deny it) but it seems we aren't discriminatory enough.

Natasha,

Societies grow when its people engage each other. That requires, fusion. Yes, fusion, perhaps a better word than assimilation, because fusion denotes a contribution by the immigrant population and the existing population. Fusion requires an absence of cultural obstacles to melding. Where you have a Greek Granny who would chide a grand-daughter for not marrying her own kind you have a problem.
(I knew a guy who was dating a Greek who had duck under a table, when his date's family walked in the door) If you have someone from Hong Hong with greater bonds with an externational community, back home, you have a problem. I guess the bottom line is one primary alliagence. Economic refuges with alliance to their pockets and guanxi connection, not their new country. Where does it rest?

Of course, the above is not true of all new arrives. Just the same, its not the odd bad apple, in the barrel, either.

Ho "immigrants should not be expected to pass tests on Australian values"

Innnteresting.
Does Ho agree that Australian values are important for society ?

Does Ho in fact wish to transform Australian Values into a Chinese direction ?

Why would Ho not want Australian values to be cherished by ALL citizens ?

Ho demonstrates many of those values in his own life, why would he not wish to be sure that newcomers also share those values ? or at least understand what they are.

Natasha. You did have a glimmer of truth in your article.

[What is not evident, however, is that the Australian multicultural project - as it is really lived, rather than disingenuously caricatured, harbours the seeds of the kind of DIVISION and IRRESPONSIBILITY, carried in by new or putative citizens of certain backgrounds, that would justify this kind of move.]

....and THAT... is what we are campaigning against. THAT...is why we desire to emphasize and reinforce the values which make our society the great place it is.

Sadly there ARE 'certain backgrounds' which are not compatible with our values.

There is an ironic twist with the Bilal Skaff gang rape incident.
"Bilal" was the name of one of Mohamed's gang who, at the invasion of the Khaibar Jews, brought the wife of the newly tortured and decapitated Kinana (chief) straight past the dead bodies (deliberately) to 'raise their grief and distress'. Mohamed then proceeded to arrange for this 'hot chick' to become his illegal wife.
Must be something about the name "Bilal"........and gang rape, torture, violence against women..lack of sympathy, cold heartedness ?
At Khaibar also, 'temporary marrraige' was allowed by Mohammed for 3 days. (thats code for RAPE the captive women, who's men lay in pools of blood, dismembered, guts hanging out, on the ground)

CULTURAL NOTE "I'm Australian, we call a spade_A_SPADE!"

If anyone doubts that the name "Bilal" would not be known to be associated with Khaibar, Hezbollah named one of their rockets "Khaibar-1". Ambrozi screamed out hysterically "Jews... remember Khaibar"

Perhaps WE should 'remember Khaibar' when it comes to scrutinizing visa applicants ?

Migrant children outperforming aussie born children can be explained by strict immgration policy: only the best applicants are chosen, not just anyone. The end result makes it SEEM like Aussies are lazy in comparison. Get off your high horse Natasha. The Australian base Anglo culture nurtures and cultivates the best out of migrants. Therefore we should be very discerning about who is let in. Afterall, most of the drugs that come into Australia are from international crime syndicates whose partners in crime are non-english speaking migrants and their offspring.