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Hakan Akyol about the strategies of the ECCV in relation to Premier Kennett

Hakan Akyol.

Hakan Akyol describes the strategies of the ECCV in relation to Premier Kennett

Created:

unknown

Date Added:

01 March 2009

Source:

source not available

Format:

mov (Quicktime);

File size:

7.8 MB

Length:

03min02sec

Transcript

In terms of the ECCV’s positioning against some of the changes and cuts that the Commonwealth Government, the Howard Government were implementing at that time, we cited Kennett’s arguments and referred to the Commonwealth Government to take Kennett’s lead on these issues. That didn’t necessarily go down well but it was – it was also –and just in terms of an organisation’s perspective, was highlighting the fact that this wasn’t party political in any shape or form, because sometimes advocacy organisations are often deemed or associated in some instances, in other instances as just as a way of political entities or governments sort of pooh-poohing certain organisations. And saying, “Oh they’re just pulling for that particular party and that’s why they’re criticising us.” But we were sort of pointing out that, look, you know, policies and programs at say, whether led or initiated under the Malcolm Fraser Government in terms of multiculturalism, to the Kennett Government in terms of the policy and the charter and so forth –were positive signals and in terms of saying that multiculturalism or our culture of diversity was one of our greatest assets.

01:25

And citing that. the ECCV and FECCA had a falling out during that period as well, partly because they felt that FECCA as a national advocacy body wasn’t focusing on the issues of actually advocating as its sort of purpose was and was very quiet on that front. So, the ECCV actually suspended its membership on FECCA to seek various changes both in terms of its constitution membership and its representativeness. But also in its capacity, although its willingness to make a stand. I mean, there was – at one point where FECCA had criticised democrats for using children or babies in their posters against – in terms of anti-racism and anti-One Nation Party, when during that term, funding to human rights and equal opportunity commission, funding to a whole range of ethno-specific organisations, funding for the state and territory ECCs had been cut by the Howard Government, FECCA issues a media release criticising the Democrats prior to an election and not the other – not the other way round.

02:37

Which led Victoria – well the Ethnic Commission Council of Victoria to actually issue a joint media release with the Democrats saying that this was actually a welcome strategy and writing to FECCA at the time and saying, “Guys, let’s refocus on what your aim and objectives are and focusing on the needs of the ethnic communities.”

03:02

End transcript