On 16 April 2013 I was privileged to attend the book launch of "The Promise of Diversity" and hear the Rt Hon Malcolm Fraser speak. His speech on issues of the past and present in Australia was open, honest and, indeed, inspiring. I was left wondering why so many of our current politicians seem unable to speak with such clarity and humanity.
Below is the link to the speech and a brief commentary from Initiatives of Change, Melbourne.
I thank you Mr Fraser, for your words of wisdom and for imploring us to find humanitarian ways to move forward.
We rightfully expect and demand humanity from our politicians.
Margaret Hepworth
Author: Clarity in Time
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tXQSkpwhfs
Published on Apr 18, 2013
http://www.au.iofc.org The Rt. Hon. Malcolm Fraser, (Prime Minister of Australia from 1975-1983) launches "The Promise of Diversity" at Armagh, the Initiatives of Change centre in Melbourne, Australia. The book, written by John Hartwell Williams and John Bond (both full-time IofC workers) is a biography of Professor Jerzy Zubrzycki, known as "the father of multiculturalism in Australia". Jubrzycki was a Polish sociologist who came to Australia after World War II. As a sociologist in the Austrlian capital, Canberra, he was instrumental in shaping the policies which have made Australia one of the most successful multicultural societies in the world (although still not without problems).
Introducing the book, Malcolm Fraser paid tribute to a man he had known personally and attacked the politicians past and present who try to make political capital out of racial or religious differences. In particular he attacks the current narrow, xenophobic, political debate on refugees saying that it is causing damage to Australia's reputation around the world.
The book is published by Grosvenor Books Australia, 226 Kooyong Road, Toorak, VIC 3142. email grosvenor.books@au.iofc.org Tel.
