Governments can never work alone to tackle major social issues such as racism and intolerance.
The Commonwealth Government has a strong track record of working together with other levels of government, the private sector and community organisations to ensure that everyone can play a part in the development of our society. The first three partners the Australian Cricket Board, the New South Wales Rural Fire Service, and Woolworths Ltd were announced by the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, the Hon Philip Ruddock MP, at the inaugural launch of the living in harmony initiative on 14 August 1998. The next five partners - McDonald's Australia Ltd, the Westfield Group, Berri Ltd, the Ethnic Communities Council of New South Wales and the Australian Multicultural Foundation were announced by the Minister on 16 December 1998. More recently, a partnership has been formed jointly with the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission and the Australian Local Government Association, and with the Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games, as indicated in the list below. Overseas, please contact your nearest Australian diplomatic office .