About the Chinese Australian Forum

Our Objectives

The Chinese Australian Forum (CAF) is a non-partisan body established in 1985 to provide the Chinese community with a voice in the Australian political process. It began with the aim of raising the political awareness of Chinese Australians, but this objective quickly evolved and expanded to include involvement in contemporary social and political issues affecting the democratic process in Australia.

CAF regards diligent participation as an essential part of the integration of Chinese Australians with mainstream Australian society. By providing a forum for education and debate, and through responding to topical issues, CAF provides the voice for Chinese Australians to air their views and be heard. It is the only Chinese Australian organisation in NSW whose main activity is to engage members and supporters in the political process of this country.

In a climate of changing social and political attitudes, the objective of full and proper representation and advocacy is crucial in ensuring individual rights, civil liberty, and dignity are protected without compromise. In this context, CAF addresses sensitive and potentially divisive issues including race relations, immigration, citizenship, discrimination, multiculturalism and social justice.

CAF embraces the unique qualities of a culturally diverse society that Australia today is. CAF respects the ideals of multiculturalism, a policy supported in principle by the two major political parties in Australia, albeit at varying degrees of enthusiasm under different leaderships. CAF believes it is through these ideals that greater inter-racial understanding and harmony will be achieved.  

In pursuing these objectives, it is CAF’s aim that the organization will play a positive role in the development and advancement of Australia.

CAF aims to build a harmonious and socially cohesive Australian society through:

·                     Consultation with government departments and political parties

·                     Liaison with community groups and organisations

·                     Responding to public issues

·                     Conducting meetings and forums to address causes and issues of importance

·                     Conducting a media watch to monitor the coverage & presentation of important issues

Membership

Membership is open to all.  Current membership comprises a wide cross-section of the community.  The majority are Chinese Australian professionals and members of the business community.

The Chinese Australian Forum is an independent not-for-profit organization. CAF receives no funding from government and members donate their efforts on a voluntary basis.

Initiatives

Some of CAF’s initiatives include:

• Public dialogues with government and political parties on racism issues
• Campaigning against Pauline Hanson and rallying against what she stood for
• Action in the infamous “Turramurra Station” case where Asian students were racially abused and ass aulted
• Submission to the Australian government of the day to counsel the Indonesian Government over acts of violence committed in Indonesia against Chinese Indonesians
• Submission to the National Press Council over a Sydney Morning Herald article on plagiarising by Asian University students
• Submission to the Department of Education and Training on procedures for the selection of Year 7 students under the Placement program for Selective schools
• Submission to the then NSW government over the proposed introduction of the MSG Bill
• Acted on behalf of Asian students who were racially abused, assaulted and subsequently charged for affray by the Police in the aftermath of the Turramurra ( Sydney suburb) train station incident in 1991. Following CAF's representations, these charges were dropped by the Police
• Held a public forum in 2005 for the major political parties to enunciate their policies on multiculturalism in Australia (the Liberals, Labour, Australian Democrats & Greens sent representatives)
• Consultation with the Department of Defence Services on the recruitment of Asian Australians in the Defence Forces
• Protested against the Family First Party’s high ranking preference for P auline Hanson Party’s Party in the 2007 Federal election
• Submissions on the Australian Citizenship Test prior to its introduction by the Liberal government and the 2008 review by the Labor government
• Submissions and discussions with the NSW Government, the Opposition and the Community Relations Council over flaws in the current NSW Anti Discrimination Act with respect to racial bullying in NSW schools (the Excelsior Public School case)
• Held a joint function with the Chinese Youth League to raise funds for the Australian Olympic team participating in the 2008 Beijing Games. The event raised just on A$60,000
• Held a public forum in 2008 to clarify Immigration and Multicultural issues under the Labor Government