Katanning: A Town Built on Diversity
Leaders in the regional Western Australian town of Katanning are affirming their community’s deep-rooted multicultural identity, a stance taken in response to recent national commentary suggesting Australia should embrace a monoculture.
Imam Alep Mydie, a long-time resident of Katanning, expressed bewilderment at the notion of a monocultural Australia. “Even in the place I call home, which is Katanning, I have been here for the past 56 years, multiculturalism has existed before I arrived here,” he stated. This sentiment arises following a national address where the policy of multiculturalism was described as “utterly flawed,” with an assertion that while Australia is multiracial, it must become monocultural.
Katanning, situated approximately 300 kilometers south of Perth, is a farming community of about 4,000 people. Its residents represent over 40 different nationalities, with Imam Mydie himself relocating to the town with his family from Christmas Island.
An Open Invitation for Dialogue
Imam Mydie welcomes the opportunity to engage in a direct conversation with those holding such views. “I would like to sit with Ms. Hanson and talk to anybody who has the view of that ideology,” he said. “Am I not Australian? Yes, I am.” He emphasized the enriching nature of multiculturalism, highlighting the exchange of knowledge it fosters. “When we arrived here 56 years ago, who was assisting us?” he questioned. “We learned from the Italians, the Greeks, from people from Europe that were living in Katanning, that were here before us.”
A Community’s Pride in Diversity
The town’s commitment to multiculturalism is visibly celebrated, with a line of flags in the main street symbolizing the diverse cultures that contribute to the area, a theme also prominent at the annual Harmony Festival.
Shire president Kristy D’Aprile underscored the town’s dedication to fostering a cohesive community that embraces various faiths, cultures, and beliefs. “Katanning certainly is very proud of who we are and how our many different cultures work together to form a solid community,” she affirmed. “Katanning has a very long history of being a welcoming place for new Australians.”
The local abattoir has been a significant driver of this diversity, attracting workers from Christmas and Cocos (Keeling) Islands, as well as from Afghanistan, Myanmar, and China. Ms. D’Aprile noted that multiculturalism has been instrumental in bolstering the town’s economy. “We have a workforce that has been built around many different cultures filling critical roles within our community,” she explained. “We are multicultural at our core, and we need that to continue for our sustainability.”
Challenging the Monoculture Concept
Federal Multicultural Affairs Minister Anne Aly has countered the notion of a monoculture, stating that such comments diminish the value of differences. “Difference is actually something that is good; it’s good economically, it’s good socially, it’s good for the nation,” Minister Aly commented. “Diversity and difference are not new to Australia; it is ancient. Even our First Nations people had different cultural practices, spoke different languages.”
Dr. Aly further elaborated that the concept of a singular monoculture is not a reality. “Even within family units, there are different practices of culture,” she observed.
Conversely, One Nation WA leader Rod Caddies presented Senator Hanson’s monoculture idea as a message of unity. “If you accept Australia as your home, you accept Australia has a culture and you contribute to that culture,” he stated. “We have a culture that is set on shared beliefs, values and behaviours. For countries to be stable, there has to be a single, overarching culture.”
Mr. Caddies suggested that the argument focusing on the workforce’s reliance on diversity overlooked a fundamental point. “Cultural differences do not play a part in our workforce,” he contended. “[Multicultural workers] are Australian; they are a part of the workforce as Australians, not as a different culture.”
