{{Use Australian English|date=November 2016}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2016}} The '''Australian Multicultural Council''' ('''AMC'''), formerly '''Council for Multicultural Australia''' ('''CMA'''), is a body appointed by the Minister for Home Affairs to advise the Australian Government on multicultural affairs, social cohesion and integration policy and programs.
==History== The Council for Multicultural Australia was established by the Australian Government in July 2000 for a period of three years. Its purpose was to "raise awareness and understanding" about multiculturalism. The term of the CMA was extended for an additional three years to 2006.{{cn|date=March 2022}} The Howard government allowed it to lapse in that year, with the departure of its champion Arthur Sinodinos from the office of the Prime Minister.<ref name=tcuts2/>
In August 2011, the Federal Government under Prime Minister Julia Gillard, acting in accordance with the recommendations of the Australian Multicultural Advisory Council, established the Australian Multicultural Council, with the terms of reference being to provide ongoing advice on multicultural policy, social cohesion and interfaith dialogue. The membership included Rauf Soulio, as chair of the Council, Peter Wertheim, Tanveer Ahmed, and Tim Soutphommasane.<ref name=tcuts2>{{cite web |url=https://theconversation.com/the-politics-of-the-australian-multicultural-council-3005 |title=The politics of the Australian Multicultural Council |website=The Conversation |access-date=8 October 2016 |first=Andrew |last=Jakubowicz |date=24 August 2011}}</ref> and Gail Ker, deputy chair, Yassmin Abdel-Magied, Bulent Hass Dellal {{post-nominals|country=AUS|AM}}, Carmel Guerra, Samina Yasmeen, and Talal Yassine, and two ex officio members, Andrew Metcalfe, and Helen Szoke.<ref name=pmjg>{{cite web |url=http://pmtranscripts.dpmc.gov.au/release/transcript-18089 |title=Speech to the Australian Multicultural Council Launch, Canberra |publisher=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (Australia) |access-date=8 October 2016 |date=22 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161009162209/http://pmtranscripts.dpmc.gov.au/release/transcript-18089 |archive-date=9 October 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
The council's membership was allowed to lapse from July 2014 to December 2014.<ref name=tcuts1>{{cite web |url=https://theconversation.com/new-multicultural-council-signals-a-broader-shift-to-the-right-35815 |title=New Multicultural Council signals a broader shift to the right |publisher=The Conversation Media Group Ltd |website=The Conversation|access-date=8 October 2016 |first=Andrew |last=Jakubowicz |date=7 January 2015}}</ref>
Sev Ozdowski was appointed Chair of the Australian Multicultural Council in December 2014.<ref name=tcuts1/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.uws.edu.au/newscentre/news_centre/more_news_stories/sev_ozdowski_appointed_to_the_australian_multicultural_council |title=Sev Ozdowski appointed to the Australian Multicultural Council |publisher=Western Sydney University |access-date=8 October 2016 |date=18 December 2014}}</ref> Other members were Helena Kyriazopoulos, deputy chair, Vasan Srinivasan, Charlotte Vidor, Faiza Rehman, Bulent Hass Dellal {{post-nominals|country=AUS|AM}}.<ref name=tcuts1/><ref name=smh1>{{cite web |url=https://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/abbott-government-appointments-to-australian-multicultural-council-come-under-fire-20150124-12xgud.html |title=Abbott government appointments to Australian Multicultural Council come under fire |publisher=Fairfax Media|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |access-date=8 October 2016 |first=Gareth |last=Hutchens |date=24 January 2015}}</ref>
==Role and composition== The priorities of the council are listed as:<ref name=amc2022/> * strengthening public understanding of a shared "Australian identity" as a unifying characteristic of Australia * harnessing the economic and social benefits of our diverse population * advancing programs and policies aimed at building harmonious and socially cohesive communities * promoting the importance of mutual respect and responsibility, which foster our shared Australian values, identity, and citizenship * building stronger and more cohesive communities and addressing barriers to participation, including racism and discrimination * promoting greater intercultural and interfaith understanding and dialogue
{{as of|2022|3|26}}, the council, whose term runs from 2022 to 2025, is known as the Australian Multicultural Council. Bulent Hass Dellal is Executive Director, and other AMC members include Nora Amath, Craig Foster {{post-nominals|country=AUS|AM}}, Helena Kyriazopoulos, Vasan Srinivasan, Anthony Sukari {{post-nominals|country=AUS|OAM}} and Jason Yeap {{post-nominals|country=AUS|OAM}}.<ref name=amc2022>{{cite web | title=Australian Multicultural Council | website= Department of Home Affairs (Australia) | url=https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/mca/Pages/australian-multicultural-council.aspx | access-date=26 March 2022| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220326060842/https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/mca/Pages/australian-multicultural-council.aspx| archive-date =26 March 2022| url-status= unfit}} 50px Text may have been copied from this source, which is available under a [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/au/ Attribution 3.0 Australia (CC BY 3.0 AU)] licence.</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
== External links == * {{official|https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/mca/Pages/australian-multicultural-council.aspx}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Council For Multicultural Australia}} Category:Multiculturalism in Australia