This discussion paper traces the concepts and events which link slogans about multicultural education with policy statements of political parties and the implementing of these policies, through administrative agencies, to schools. The first section is a theoretical background and gives consideration to what an immigrant's political and moral rights are and should be. Section 2 gives some demographics about immigrant groups in Australia and a background on the country's political parties. Section 3 considers the implementation of government policies and how they filter down into the school system, the individual school, and finally the single classroom. Examples of policy statements are given with analyses of some of their possible interpretations and consequences. There are two appendices; one gives demographics of immigrants by state and the second offers some policy suggestions regarding further research and actions that should be taken to untangle political slogans from the useful actions of educators. (CG)