THE National Multicultural Festival sees Canberra at its best. And is a reminder of the worst.

On the one hand, there is the Food and Dance Spectacular, Chinese New Year and Carnival in the City in “a celebration and sharing of culturally diverse traditions, dance, food, performances, exhibitions, concerts and information”.

On the other, is our extreme embarrassment about how “Canberra” treats refugees.

Most Canberrans cringe when we hear our city’s name used as an aka for the incumbent Federal Government. But for so many Australians they are synonymous.

The national capital at this time of year revels in diversity and cultural differences “from over 170 countries” and celebrates that it is “home to over 100 embassies”. At the same time refugees from war-torn Syria and other places in the Middle East and Africa are turned from our shores.

The National Multicultural Festival organisers let Canberrans know that: “In the lead up to the 2016 event, the festival team will be working with the many thousands of stallholders, performers, community organisation members, diplomatic corps and tireless volunteers to bring you an unforgettable experience”.

In the meantime the Federal government moves refugees to Manus Island and Nauru. For them, an unforgettable experience.

What is it that really frightens Australians about refugees? Are they so different? At the very time diversity is being celebrated by so many local people in Canberra, it seems the government is rejecting more of the same people who have brought about our vibrant communities.

Border protection politics (by both major political parties) are at a low ebb; a very low ebb. It is a political vice grip denying celebration of difference, of alternative music, dance and food. Compassion seems to have no place. It is not about a “fair go”. It is unAustralian.

One hundred and twelve children are in detention in Australia. How many thousand children (that look like them) were in Civic at the Multicultural Festival?

In a recent open letter from academics to the Prime Minister these concerns were set out graphically: “The serious deleterious effect this has on the physical and psychological welfare of children, who in effect are being punished in the absence of guilt on their part of any kind and outside the normal legal, child protection and welfare frameworks within which their situation should more properly and appropriately be addressed”.

What has happened to Australian compassion? Consecutive governments have committed Australia to participate in wars that have, in part, helped to create refugees. This should mean accepting that there are consequences and shouldering Australia’s part of the responsibility. Tony Abbott and Scott Morrison did “stop the boats”. However, the world is still reeling from the magnitude of the problem as multitudes of refugees arrive on European shores.

There is plenty of research to show that refugees were reluctant to leave their work, their homes, their neighbourhoods or their broader families. But they are parents. They want a better life for their children. A life free of war, violence and fear. Perhaps rather than protecting their children from war, they dream of taking their children to a festival! This is not so hard to understand. And Australia is bound by international obligations to protect refugees – although with the current policies of the government and the opposition, it seems hard to believe.

Canberra becomes a Mini-UN for the festival, yet at the same time the Federal government (aka Canberra) seems happy to ignore the real-life UN. There is strong evidence that immigration detention is harmful to children. The damaging effects of detention are well documented in many reports including the 2016 report on “The Health and Well-being of Children in Immigration Detention” by the Human Rights Commission. Now there are emerging, well-founded accusations about possible breaches to Australia’s commitment on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. It should be no surprise that prolonged immigration detention continues to have a detrimental impact on the mental health of asylum seekers.

While Canberrans celebrate our multiculturalism it is time to spare a thought for those from other cultures who really need our support.