Banjo,
You propose an dichotomy between preserving Australian culture and promoting alien cultures. Neither position is intellectually justifiable. Holding on to values beliefs and customs merely because they are the ones we have is absurd. Rather, we should preserve what is good in our society and change what is not. We should be open-minded enough to examine what other cultures have to offer, and to consider what we might learn from it.

When I came to Australia, the double standard of sexual morality was common. Indigenous children were being taken from their parents and put into institutions where they were raised to be an underclass. There was objection to what was called miscegenation. The Victorian police beat up peaceful protesters and were praised by the press and politicians. Newspapers refused to publish advertisements opposing the Vietnam war or the 1971 Springbok tour. In parts of the country, women who married automatically lost their jobs. ASIO was spying on The West'--and putting its interests ahead of those of Australia. The NSW government was extremely corrupt; and several of the other police forces were also. That was part of the culture of the country I had come to.

Quite plainly, the culture of the country I had come to had much that required to be changed. (I had a clear obligation to argue for change, and did so.) I am glad that most of these things have been changed--Australian culture has in these respects improved. It can be improved further. It is less racist than it was--but there is no doubt that the Howard Government encouraged racism in a way not seen since before 1972. That increase in racism ought to be reversed.

"Of course Australia is racist."
Why then have so many people immigrated to Australia over the past 70 years from Europe, Asia, Middle East, Americas, Africa and more wish to immigrate here?

I feel that most racisum is prevoked and as such is in reaction to an event or an on going chain of events.

Indiginous welfare is one example. Our children go without because we have to provide so much for these people (the majority) who simply will not work. This causes racisum.

Riots like Crunulla beach or the leboneese on the streets of Sydney, only to cry for help when they were stranded in lebinon.

Non Australians are only Australians when it suits them, and this is the problem.

Krud appologised to the aboriginies. Did that stop them bashing out children and steeling from us. NO!

Just remember one very important issue.

Go to a forien non-english speaking country and disobay their laws and you will soon find out what racisim is all about. That's if you don't get shot in the mean time.

All imigrants should be told, 'This is Australia' and, if you wish to live here you must obay our laws.

p.s. You are free to leave at any time!

Racism exists in both sides of politics and more runs in families than to political leanings.
I think we need to distinguish "racism" from "cultural prejudice". Most would agree that all cultures have good and bad including ours. Pointing out differences is often pounced upon as "racist".
I believe one of the strengths of Australian culture is the ability to absorb and rise above the differences, the so-called "layed back" attitude. However when pushed "you must respect ..." the response often is "No, *you* respect our ...". The media filters for the sensational and escalates the "conversation" into "argument", a cultural discussion becomes a racist rant.
E.G. A woman uses the term "wog" and is branded racist. I grew up with this term in common usage with the "wogs" at school. There was a stage shows in Melbourne called "wogs out of work", etc. It was an acceptable term in certain parts of our culture. The groups actually referred to themselves as wogs and their non-wog friends picked it up. This kind of tongue-in-cheek stuff is a celebrated part of our culture. It is *not* the same as deriding name calling like "poofter", it is a sign more of acceptance than not. Calling *her* racist is an attack on her (and many others) native culture.
Female genital mutilation is another "cultural" issue where I have been accused of being racist because I describe a traditional cultural practice as unacceptable in my country. I want it banned, stuff the ancient "reasons": you don't mutilate children, period.
Having to absorb so many differing/contradicting cultures, the only theme that can be common to all is "respect trivial difference, don't be too quick to be offended, don't be rude to others". When this attitude is rewarded with "no, you must do things this way with *us*, we are different", then yes, Australians ark up. Similar to stuck up people in school, "stuck up" cultures also get short shift. This is more akin to culture wars than racism. If keeping standards up is racist, then yes we have a few and thank God we do.

Indian's get attacked by Lebanese gangs, and then 3rd generation Australian's beat themselves up about a racist Australia. Ye Gods!

If racist means we are suspicious and wary of new cultures moving into our neighbourhood, then I suspect we are all racist. But I always thought racism was how you dealt with those suspicions. Having gangs of youths bash the crap out of them isn't the Australian way. Never has been, and it isn't now. What is Bruce complaining about?

Australia does have a black history but in 2009 the situation has improved remarkably. The June this year, Blacktown City Festival in Western Sydney had students and participants with origins from over 49 countries. We are home to tens of thousands of people migrating from Asia and Africa.

I live in this racial melting pot and feel tremendously enriched for the experience. Our racial mix is found in local schools, shopping centres, sporting venues and factories. The Council's Bowman Hall, where Whitlam gave his famous 'It's Time' speech is hired out to many community groups.

Crime is low amongst recent migrant groups and thanks to the work of pro-active arts programs, festivals, schools bridging initiatives, faith-based organisations, community leaders efforts and tolerant attitudes by ordinary residents, the evidence is that multi-culturalism can work well and enrich all our lives.

Understanding cultural differences improves with time thanks to the mature attitudes from most Australians and the dedicated efforts of our Migrant Resource Centres, community development workers, police, shop-keepers and leaders in migrant communities.

Community harmony and some spectacular success stories are the rewards for continuious effort to have a positive vision, create job opportunities, develop a sence of inclusion and the ability to respond rapidly and wisely to race based incidents that can spark violence and public protest.

There's always room for improvement - particularly the way that some politicians and political candidates seek to exploit racism for political advantage, as occurred at the last few elections with fake racist election leaflets put out in Western Sydney by members of the Liberal Party. Magistrate O'Shea let them off with light fines.

That kind of offence should attract the harshest prison sentences since it is the exposive material that stokes racist attitudes, distrust and violence, undoing all the good work in community development.