A group of post-war migrants denied citizenship by Australia for decades on political grounds are calling for the government to formally acknowledge their mistreatment.

The group were given adverse security assessments, and subsequently had their citizenship claims refused, on the basis of their individual political beliefs.

It also meant waiting decades to gain naturalisation or become a permanent resident, resulting in the inability to temporarily leave the country to visit family overseas.

Pathways to citizenship are the foundation of successful settlement, belonging and acceptance in any society, and are highly valued by Australia’s diverse communities. The Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA) supports the calls for the Government to acknowledge the unfair treatment of these post-WWII migrants, as an important step in preventing similar injustice in the future.

This is part of a special investigation on ‘Unwanted Australians’ by SBS Journalists Kristina Kukolja and Lindsey Arkley. You can read the full report here.

Media Comments: FECCA Office – (02) 6282 5755 or media@mediafb85f8131c.wpcomstaging.com.

The Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA) reiterates the importance of multicultural issues moving to the core of all government policy and programs.

Australia’s multiculturalism is something we should be very proud of, however, it is not reflected proportionately in government policies.

People from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds constitute a significant proportion of the Australian population. It’s important that they are empowered, supported and well-resourced in all government policy and programs.

Migrants and refugees experience higher levels of unemployment and earn at or below the minimum wage based on a number of barriers. These can include discrimination, education background, skills recognition, language barriers and lack of Australian work experience.

Empowering diverse communities by enabling opportunities that allow everyone to participate and contribute to society is critical to fostering their economic, social and cultural contributions.

People from CALD backgrounds are innovative, resourceful, and have enhanced productivity and competitiveness in business. Many Australian entrepreneurs are migrants, and manage small, medium and large enterprises.

We believe targeted policies will address the specific needs of Australia’s CALD population, nurture social inclusion and ensure we uphold a cohesive society.

FECCA would like to see a real commitment from all parties to adopt policies that respond to Australia’s cultural and linguistic diversity; where multicultural issues move from the margins of public policy, to the core of all government policies and programs.

You can find all your latest multicultural election content on the Federal Election 2016 webpage on the FECCA website.

FECCA’s election priorities:  Governing for All Australians: A Policy Platform to Respond to Australia’s Cultural and Linguistic Diversity

Major parties’ responses:  Federal Election 2016: Multicultural policy commitments from the major parties

Media Comments: FECCA Office – (02) 6282 5755 or media@mediafb85f8131c.wpcomstaging.com.