Unity Vision and Policy

Unity 2.0 has endorsed a majority of vision and policies of the Unity 1.0 version.

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The Unity calls on Australians to work towards creating a society that is harmonious, culturally rich and cohesive in its diversity for current and future generations. Australia is a modern multicultural society, diverse and essentially harmonious. Cultural diversity and the policies promoting this have shaped a dynamic and prosperous Australia.

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The Unity asks Australians to embrace the spirit of multiculturalism and reconciliation, to create a society that is fully inclusive; where prejudice and division are replaced by understanding and cohesion; and in which healthy, informed and truthful debate is promoted.

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The Unity envisages a society that recognises the diverse needs of all people of all races and creeds; of those who live in rural and regional Australia and those who live in the cities; of women and men. A society that enables all to reach their true potential and make their own positive and unique contribution to our nation.

The Unity sees a united and inclusive nation where all Australians, including the original inhabitants of this land, have political, educational and social equality, and full legal rights. The Unity recognises Aboriginal Australians as the traditional custodians of Australia. We believe in the need for reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

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The Unity seeks to create a progressive society where all Australians are supported and encouraged to embrace and respond positively to change, to maximise the nation’s economic opportunities, its productivity and prosperity.

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The Unity supports the fundamental Australian value of ‘a fair go for all’. We must ensure that services and support are available to those who need them.

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We look forward to a future with a dynamic and outward looking Australian economy that has thriving international market networks. A future where our nation is globally engaged and respected for its unity and diversity.

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We believe the future of Australia will be one of diversity, harmony, unity and great cultural richness.

 

 

Disability

respecting human dignity and the right to fully participate

The Unity supports the rights of people with a disability, including people with a disability who are from diverse cultural backgrounds.

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Principles
1. The Unity supports the United Nations (UN) Declaration on the Rights of Disabled Persons, which includes rights to respect for human dignity, measures to be as self reliant as possible, economic and social security, and protection against exploitation.

2. Achieving concrete outcomes for people with a disability, particularly those with a disability who are from diverse cultures, requires a commitment and resourcing by all levels of government to implement existing policies and legislation.

3. Services for people with disabilities need to incorporate programs and strategies for equitable delivery of services to culturally diverse communities.

4. We are particularly concerned about people from diverse cultures who have a disability, as their needs have not been well understood or addressed by Governments and the wider community.

5. In meeting the needs of people with a disability, governments must place greater emphasis on social responsibility, and less on economic stringency.

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Education and Training

a learning society

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Australia needs a strong and vibrant education system. The Unity is committed to giving choice in education and supporting both a strong public system as well as private education. It is essential that all people, the disadvantaged as well as the affluent, have access to quality education.

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Principles
1. The education of Australians is an investment in our future, and Australia’s people are our principal national resource.

2. Tertiary education is a right, and therefore should be freely accessible and affordable.

3. We will be unable to compete internationally if our education system is inadequately resourced.

4. Australia has experienced a serious decline in tertiary education as a direct result of funding cutbacks, and it is essential that investment in tertiary education be restored to adequate levels.

5. Community language and ethnic schools and education programs are a key part of the education sector, playing an essential role in the promotion of our nation’s multicultural heritage, rather than the promotion of a monoculture.

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Environment

creating a sustainable and healthy environment

The Unity believes that a sustainable and healthy environment is necessary for a strong economy and a good standard of living. Non-Indigenous land use has had a major impact on Australia’s environment.

Natural resources can be used and much economic activity relies on their use. Use of natural resources should be sustainable in the long term rather than for short term gain, and value must be placed on preserving a proportion of our natural environment.

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Health

access to quality health services by the whole community

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All Australians should have access to quality health services. A properly resourced health system must be affordable and accessible to all members of the community. Health services should meet the health needs of our culturally diverse society. In addition, there should be a range of public and private health facilities available.

There is a chronic shortage of doctors in rural areas, yet recognition of skills of overseas doctors is often unduly restrictive and prevents well-qualified overseas doctors from practising in Australia.

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Human Rights

fundamental for Australia 

As a nation, we must take a principled stand on human rights and all aspects of democracy. We must not trade off human rights and democracy against economic and political gains. Therefore, Australia’s foreign policy should emphasise the importance of universally upholding human rights and not only advancing Australia’s economic and political self-interest.

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Australia needs to improve its human rights records. Since 1996, Australia has had a relatively poor and worsening human rights record, particularly because of its approach to Indigenous Australians, mandatory sentencing laws and the mandatory detention of asylum seekers who do not have visas to enter Australia.

 

 

Immigration

enriching our society, culture and economy

Unity takes a positive stand on immigration and supports an increase in the immigration intake.
Unity believes that immigration enriches our society, culture and economy and contributes greatly to a vibrant and dynamic Australia. Immigration allows us to relate to the rest of the world with greater sensitivity, intelligence and knowledge. It is essential that Australia has an immigration program which is global, non-discriminatory, balanced and fair in both process and outcomes.

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Indigenous Affairs

continuing the journey to reconciliation

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The Unity support the Indigenous Voice to Parliament .

Australia’s Indigenous cultures are now a central part of the national culture — including words, images, colours and a sense of how we might relate to the land and to each other. The Unity Party recognises that the wealth of Australia is built on the resources that were originally owned by Indigenous people.

Since the Mabo and Wik decisions, there is flexibility to recognise different legal norms. Yet the Unity Party is very concerned that the 1998 Native Title legislation is discriminatory and restricts the common law rights of Indigenous people while extending the rights of others. Since it was enacted, the Native Title legislation has not been effective. The partial extinguishment of native title does not consider compensation to the original Aboriginal owners.

 

 

 

Media and Information

our media reflecting the face of our diversity

The Unity Party is concerned about the lack of diverse faces and voices in our mainstream media. The Australian media does not represent the true diversity of the Australian people.

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The mainstream media tends to report stereotyped views of ethnic and Indigenous communities, and needs to be more sensitive and responsive to the concerns of these communities. The media should acknowledge that the structures and dynamics of ethnic and Indigenous communities are not only about race or country of origin, and that they are complex communities.

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The media has also played a role in heightening the divisions created by the so-called ‘race debate’. Free speech and debate have become coded words for allowing racists to express their prejudices. Any response challenging their representation, however, is dismissed as ‘political correctness’. Some of the divisions of the past few years could have been avoided had the media handled the issues in a more balanced and ethical manner.

 

Private media ownership is concentrated in the hands of too few people and organisations.

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The gap between information rich and information poor in the community must be narrowed. Public and private organisations rely heavily on the Internet to provide information to the public. Governments must ensure that the whole community has access to this powerful communication tool.

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Multicultural Australia

a positive and essential element of our society

The Unity supports and promotes multiculturalism as a positive and essential element of today’s Australian society.

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The Unity supports the following definition of multiculturalism, which is consistent with the definition developed by the National Multicultural Advisory Council in 1999:

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“Multiculturalism is a term which recognises, values and celebrates cultural diversity. It accepts and respects the right of all people to express and promote their individual cultural heritage, within a shared commitment to Australia and the basic structures and values of democracy.

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Multiculturalism also refers to the strategies, polices and programs designed to:

Make our administrative, social and economic infrastructure more responsive to the rights, obligations and needs of our culturally diverse population

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Promote social harmony
Optimise the benefits of our cultural diversity for all Australians
Promote social justice, equal access to service, and participation in civic affairs, for our culturally diverse population.”

Unity reaffirms that the term ‘multiculturalism’ describes the cultural and ethnic diversity of  contemporary Australia.

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Unity recognises that Australia is, and will remain, a culturally diverse country and seeks to ensure that this diversity is a positive force in our society.

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Principles
Unity supports the principles of an earlier Commonwealth Government National Agenda for a Multicultural Australia:

Cultural identity:

The right of all Australians, within carefully defined limits, to express and share their individual cultural heritage, including their language and religion;

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Social justice:

The right of all Australians to equality of treatment and opportunity, and the removal of barriers of race, ethnicity, culture, religion, language, gender or place of birth; and

Productive diversity:

The need to maintain, develop and utilise effectively the skills and talents of all Australians, regardless of background.

The Unity also believes that:

1. All Australians should have a commitment to Australia, its interests and its future

2. All Australians should accept Australia’s rule of law, constitution, and democratic processes and institutions

3. Australian citizenship carries obligations as well as conferring rights: the right to express one’s own culture involves the responsibility to allow others that same right.

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Republic

moving to an independent and multicultural country

The Unity supports the formation of an Australian Republic, as Australia is now an independent and multicultural country.

Policies

1. The Head of State should be an Australian citizen.

2. The question of a Republic should be put to the people in a simple referendum question.

3. A preamble to the Constitution should enshrine principles of multiculturalism and Indigenous rights

4. The Constitution of an Australian Republic should retain the same level of checks and balances on power as the current constitution.

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Rural and Regional

fair sharing of resources and prosperity

Non-metropolitan regions make a major contribution to our economic well being, and its residents are entitled to a fair share of the benefits of our economic prosperity. The Unity Party understands that many rural and regional communities are suffering economic and social changes, through the impacts of economic rationalism, new technologies and environmental factors. These communities require Government support and intervention to revitalise regional areas and reduce hardship.

 

 

Taxation

supporting a fair and equal tax system

Unity supports a fair and equitable taxation system that allows the Government to provide services and programs which the community requires. Unity believes this is necessary for a fair and prosperous society.

 

 

Welfare

security for all Australians

All Australians have the right to a reasonable quality of life. As a community, we need to recognise that we are responsible for one another’s welfare, and that many people require some form of support at some stage in their life.

As a matter of basic social justice, all members of Australian society have an obligation to protect and support each other. This obligation can be met directly by us as individuals, through our participation in community organisations, or through governments on our behalf.

As a community we should care for those who are disadvantaged, and so Australia needs government that supports and empowers people. People who need support should not be discriminated against or treated poorly because they need assistance.