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Australia
Up until the 1960s, Australia maintained an essentially ‘white Australia 
policy’, with limits on immigration and relatively little regard for the culture 
of the nation’s indigenous minority, the Aboriginees. However, under pres-
sure for change and a wider realization and political acceptance of the need 
to respect all human rights, the government’s policy changed from one of 
assimilation to one of integration.
The key statement of the Australian government’s present multicultural 
policy is Multicultural Australia: United in Diversity, published in May 2003. 
This updated the 1999 A New Agenda for Multicultural Australia, which set 
strategic directions for multicultural policy with a specific emphasis on 
community harmony. This policy aims to ensure that all Australians have 
the opportunity to be active and equal participants in Australian society, 
and are free to live their lives and maintain their cultural traditions. This is 
further reinforced by legislation at Commonwealth, State and Territory levels. 
The fundamental principle of Australian multiculturalism is to preserve a 
‘cultural mosaic’ of separate ethnic groups. The four key principles underly-
ing multiculturalism in Australia are as follows:
freedom for all Australians to practise their culture and religion;
equal opportunity to participate fully in economic, social, cultural and 
political life within Australia;
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204 Cross-Cultural Communication
the responsibility to commit to the democratic system and respect the 
rights of all individuals;
maximization of the economic benefits derived from multiculturalism.
In 2007, the Australian government drew up plans to promote Australian 
values among immigrants. Applicants for citizenship are now required to 
pass a test which examines their knowledge of Australian history, culture 
and government.