On 8 February, 1997, the Ethnic Affairs Commission Amendment Act 1996 was proclaimed, together with new regulations requiring all public authorities to develop and report on ethnic affairs initiatives.

This legislation follows the release of the Government's White Paper - Building on Our Cultural Diversity - in December, 1996, which contained an Ethnic Affairs Action Plan 2000. This Plan requires all agencies to integrate ethnic affairs into their core business and ensure that they deliver outcomes in three key result areas: social justice, community harmony and economic and cultural opportunities.

The legislation requires that all public authorities, that is, all Departments and Statutory Bodies, develop and report on their ethnic affairs initiatives through Ethnic Affairs Priorities Statement (EAPS). New regulations under the Annual Reports Acts require that each agency report annually on their EAPS in their Annual Report to Parliament.

Under the amended Act, the Ethnic Affairs Commission is able to initiate, negotiate and enter into Agreements with other public authorities, to address issues and problems that affect ethnic communities. The status of these Agreements will also be reported in Annual Reports.

Finally, the Ethnic Affairs Commission will prepare a report each year, to be tabled in Parliament by the end of February, outlining and evaluating the status of ethnic affairs in NSW and recommending further action, on an agency basis, as necessary. The prime source of information for this report will be agency EAPS reports.

These initiatives provide a comprehensive and progressive program of ethnic affairs implementation. I look forward to your cooperation in implementing these initiatives which are central to the Government's ethnic affairs agenda.

The Chair of the Ethnic Affairs Commission, Mr Stepan Kerkyasharian, will contact Chief Executive Officers with more details of these arrangements.

Bob Carr
Premier

Issued by: Ethnic Affairs Commission of NSW
Contact: John Brennan
Tel: (02) 9716 2215
Date: 15 April 1997