Migration and multiculturalism: the way forward
Dr Bob Birrell and Professor Andrew Markus
An upcoming symposium on migration and multiculturalism in Australia comes just days after significant changes to the Federal Government's policy on managing asylum seekers.
Last Friday, Immigration Minister Chris Bowen announced significant changes to Australia’s management of asylum seekers, after the failure of the Government’s Malaysia solution. Under a softened onshore processing system, each month, at least 100 asylum seekers who arrive by boat will be assimilated into the community on bridging visas.
In addition, the government unveiled its plans to start processing asylum seekers who arrive by boat in the same manner it processes those who arrive by plane from 2012.
Presented by the Monash European and EU Centre, in conjunction with the Embassy of the Republic of Poland and the Australian Institute of Polish Affairs, the event will examine the key challenges facing Australia, and also Europe, in regard to migration and multiculturalism.
More specifically, the symposium will consider how best to respond to increasing (and not always controllable) migrations; how to deal with widening ethno-cultural diversity; how to prevent this diversity from causing social fragmentation; and what is the political future of multiculturalism in Australia and Europe.
Prominent Monash University academics Professor Andrew Markus and Dr Bob Birrell, both from the School of Philosophical, Historical and International Studies, will be keynote speakers at the symposium.
Professor Markus will examine Australian attitudes to immigration and cultural diversity while Dr Bob Birrell with seek to explore whether globalisation drives immigration outcomes.
The event will bring together other noted academics, government officials and community leaders including European guest speakers Dr Pawel Kaczmarczyk, Head of the Central and East European Economic Research Centre, as well as Dr Magdalena Lesinska, Deputy Director of Centre of Migration Research and member of the International Migration Integration and Social Cohesion Research Network.
The symposium will be held from 9am – 3pm on Wednesday 30 November, in Lecture Theatre H235, Level 2, Building H, Caulfield campus.
To confirm your attendance please RSVP to europecentre@monash.edu.