Recommendation 129

The Australian Government supports the National Anti-Racism Strategy and its related public awareness campaign, Racism. It Stops With Me. The Scanlon Foundation’s 2016 Mapping Social Cohesion report found that 86% of the community reported that multiculturalism has been good for Australia.

Australia has comprehensive anti-discrimination laws at federal, state and territory level that are the subject of ongoing review and public debate. The Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth) makes discrimination on a range of grounds unlawful, including race, colour, descent and national or ethnic origin.

Australia has had a dedicated federal Race Discrimination Commissioner since 1986. The Commissioner is established within the Australian Human Rights Commission by the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth). The Commissioner’s functions include promoting understanding and acceptance of the Act, and developing research and educational programmes to combat racial discrimination. The Commissioner leads the National Anti-Racism Strategy and the ‘Racism. It Stops With Me’ campaign. Information about the current Commissioner and work underway can be found on the Race discrimination page on the Australian Human Rights Commission website.

Multicultural Australia: United, Strong, Successful Australia’s national statement on multicultural affairs, renews and reaffirms the Australian Government’s commitment to a multicultural Australia setting policy and program priorities and directions for the coming years.

Community Liaison Officers (CLOs) engage with key culturally and linguistically diverse communities around Australia to discuss policies and programs and to explore community sentiment and dynamics.  CLOs help connect communities over responsibilities including multicultural affairs, social cohesion, migration, and citizenship.

The Australian Government’s national annual Harmony Day campaign engages the community in celebrating Australia as a vibrant, diverse and multicultural society that is united by Australia’s shared values. It aims to strengthen social cohesion by fostering greater understanding of racial, religious and cultural diversity.

The Australian Multicultural Council, an advisory body to the Australian Government on issues of multicultural policy and programmes, provides support and advice on advancing programs and policies aimed at building harmonious and socially cohesive communities.
The Australian Government’s Strong and Resilient Communities Activity grant programs commenced 1 April 2018.  Funding is provided to help to foster community cohesion by increasing people’s sense of belonging and engagement. Grants help to strengthen the capacity of communities to become more self-reliant and empowered to address local issues.

The Strong and Resilient Communities Activity comprises three grant programs:

•Community Resilience grants –support projects in communities to address potential or early signs of low social cohesion and/or racial, religious and cultural intolerance.
• Inclusive Communities grants – to improve the social and economic participation of vulnerable and disadvantaged individuals to enhance overall life-time wellbeing and community belonging.
• National Research grants – for research and advice projects that address emerging issues or provide innovative solutions to issues of national significance which impact upon community resilience and integration in Australia.
For information on state and territory policies and programmes related to social cohesion and multiculturalism, visit:

• Australian Capital Territory – Community Services ACT
• New South Wales – Multicultural NSW
• Northern Territory – Office of Multicultural Affairs
• Queensland – Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services
• South Australia – Multicultural SA
• Tasmania – Department of Premier and Cabinet - Communities, Sport and Recreation
• Victoria – Department of Premier and Cabinet - Multicultural Affairs and Social Cohesion Division
• Western Australia – Office of Multicultural Interests

For information on state and territory anti-discrimination laws, visit:

• Australian Capital Territory – ACT Human Rights Commission
• Northern Territory – NT Anti-Discrimination Commission
• New South Wales – Anti-Discrimination Board of NSW
• Queensland – Queensland Government and Anti-Discrimination Commission Queensland
• South Australia –  Equal Opportunity Commission SA
• Tasmania – Equal Opportunity Tasmania
• Victoria – Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission
• Western Australia – Equal Opportunity Commission