Australia recognises the economic benefits of maintaining, developing and using effectively the skills and talents of individuals from all backgrounds. Australia seeks commitment from all its people to their country's interests and future, to the structures and principles of its society, and to the rights of others to express their views and values. Language English is the Australian language and the main language of instruction in its schools, but courses are taught in other languages and some schools have bilingual programs. One in four Australians was either born in a non-English speaking country or has at least one parent from such a country. At least 17 per cent of the population speak a language other than English at home.
Linguistic diversity is regarded as an important cultural and economic asset.
Government language support programs place special emphasis on Asian languages. The four priority languages are Japanese, Indonesian, Korean and Mandarin. Many Australian schools offer students a choice of an Asian or a European language. Since 1990 more students have studied Japanese than any other language for the final school year examination and at university. Italian remains the most widely taught language, reflecting the extensive community-based programs in Australia's second most widely spoken language.