10 September 2009
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| Dr Peter Lentini, Victorian Premier John Brumby and Dean, Faculty of Arts, Professor Rae Frances |
New Monash University research has found Victorians from ethnic and religious majority groups support and value the state's rich diversity and the positive impact multiculturalism has on the Victorian way of life.
The Premier of Victoria John Brumby this week launched the Perceptions of Multiculturalism and Security in Victoria study, which examines attitudes towards social harmony and whether people believe Australia is a safe place to live and work.
The study, authored by Dr Pete Lentini, Anna Halafoff and Ela Ogru from the Monash University Global Terrorism Research Centre (GTReC), included a series of focus group sessions in metropolitan and rural areas with about 120 Victorians of European descent.
Study participants were asked a range of questions about the relationship between multiculturalism and social harmony and what they consider to be the main threats to security in Victoria and Australia.
GTReC director and lead author Dr Lentini said multiculturalism's significance within Australian politics and society, and how it featured in Australians' and Victorians' understanding of their identity was often underestimated.
"Throughout the years of the Howard Government and particularly after 9/11 and the 7/7 London bombings, some commentators challenged the value of multiculturalism to Australia, arguing that rather than providing a mechanism to inclusion within Australian society, it generated divisiveness and created an environment complicit in producing extremism," Dr Lentini said.
"Contrary to that our study found multiculturalism was considered a defining part of Australia's identity and something that was greatly valued within society and political culture.
"Study participants shared many of the same concerns that Victorians and Australians from minority groups have in relation to terrorism and counter-terrorism, suggesting a basis for further inter-ethnic dialogue and the potential to further strengthen social cohesion."
In launching the report, Mr Brumby said Victoria's diversity was one of the State's greatest strengths.
He said the report also highlighted the need to remain ever-vigilant to ensure social harmony is maintained.
He said it was essential that programs to bring Victorians together to celebrate diversity and reject all forms of racial or religious vilification continued.
Visit the Faculty of Arts website for a full version of the report (pdf, 519 kb). | 
