“Food’s great, but ...”Evolving attitudes to multiculturalAustralia, 1985 – 1995

Mackay Research, prominent in qualitative Australian social research since the early 1980's, has produced two reports on Australian attitudes towards multiculturalism in Australia, the first in 1985, entitled The Multiculture and the second, Multiculturalism, in September this year. This paper compares findings from these two reports, indicates some directions of attitudinal change in the preceding decade, highlights specific areas of current concern for Australians about multicultural policy and outcomes and presents findings relevant to social justice. The qualitative methodology is discussed.