ABSTRACT
The official stance on multiculturalism in Australia, the United Kingdom (UK) and Germany could hardly have differed more in the early 2010s. Vertovec and Wessendorf argue that multiculturalism can 'at best be described as a broad set of mutually reinforcing approaches to encourage the incorporation and participation of immigrants and ethnic minorities and their modes of cultural/religious difference'. According to these scholars, such approaches typically contain tenets aimed at reducing discrimination; promoting equal opportunities and access to core institutions and services; recognising cultural identities and differences; and fostering diversity and mutual understanding. Australia's new multicultural policy, The People of Australia, declares: The Australian Government is unwavering in its commitment to a multicultural Australia. Therefore the Muslim communities in Australia, have successfully set up a nationwide grass-roots organisational infrastructure, with Islamic Councils on the state level and the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils (AFIC) as their nationwide peak organisations.
