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Ethnic Chinese in Local Government Councils
by Yun Lou

Local council elections 2008 were held on Saturday 13 September. Eight Chinese-Australian candidates were in the election of Councillors to the Burwood Council [1], including four for the Unity Party, one for Labour, one for Liberal and two independent candidates.

Burwood [2] is a multicultural suburb. Ethnic Chinese are the most populous minority in this area. They have been integrated with the host society and feel an increasing consciousness of taking part in politics.

In the past, ethnic Chinese only paid attention to carrying out the principle of more income for those who work more. Nowadays, however, many Chinese people spend their time on voting and running for council members. For only when you integrate with the majority of the society can you be noticed by local politicians.

Hence, Chinese citizens are no longer marginal and spectators of elections. Chinese people’s sense of political participation in Australia is rising. It is manifested in the following three ways. First, the number of applications for mayors and councillors within the Chinese communities is increasing. Second, Chinese people have become more conscious of political rights and their vote rate has been growing. Third, young Chinese from 20 to 30 years old have more political ambitions than their parents and have been entering the majority of society.

To achieve self-realization in a new community, skin colour and educational background are not important factors, but an ability to communicate with others on an equal footing, and with confidence, is essential. Each nation has its merits, so if we are prepared to learn from each other, neither haughty nor humble, we receive respect from others. Some new immigrants never have contact with people from their own ethnic group, while some only associate with people in the same ethnic group; but these two extreme ways are not the route to success.

“Many people worry that Ethnic Chinese who participate in the management of State affairs will suffer from discrimination. However, according to my experience, it will not happen. Most voters are educated and very rational. They elect you largely because of your ability,” said Alfred Huang [3], the former Adelaide Mayor.

Ethnic Chinese councillors represent not only the Chinese community, they are also able to strengthen cultural exchanges between local and Chinese communities. Therefore, it is also helpful to reduce cultural conflicts.

“I can see that those ethnic Chinese councillors repay their adoptive society, and demonstrate the viability of a multicultural Australia, what they did for community encourages other Chinese-Australians to believe in themselves and continue to serve and participate in Australian society,” said Bin Hao, an Australian citizen of Chinese origin.