Essays

‘You can’t be what you can’t see’ - The participation of migrant communities in Australia’s political system

While the recent federal election resulted in a slight increase in cultural diversity amongst our elected parliamentarians, overwhelmingly those who seek to wield power and represent the nation still come from Anglo-Celtic and European backgrounds.

This situation raises many questions: Why is it the case? Is it a problem? What are the prospects of achieving a democracy truly representing Australia’s diverse population?

The in-depth analysis presents the views of leading researchers, academics and political commentators, along with the lived experiences of people from culturally diverse backgrounds who’ve served or are currently working in our political system.