Where is the colour?

What annoys me about Australia is the BS about multiculturalism but when you switch on the TV, where is the colour?

The biggest Australian made shows on the TV are Blue Heelers, Home and Away, Neighbours, McLeods Daughters to name a few. All cast and main characters happen to carry the same skin tone. WHITE. On occasion, you see someone with a bit of brown but that's after they return from a summer holiday.

The only time that people of ethnic origin are included in these programs is when they need a bad guy, a terrorist, a drug dealer or someone stupid.

Where are the roles for Chinese, Indian, Lebanese, African and other nationalities. When will a main character of non Anglo Saxon origin be able to take a prominent role on an Australian serial?

Look at the US and ER has a Punjabi doctor, plus characters who are non-white. In the UK, shows such as The Bill have characters of Asian and Jamaican origin.

Why can't Australian television producers start including characters from the wide spectrum of nationalities in this wonderful character. These shows do not represent real life.

When you go to the office, to the shops, to work you encounter people who have originated from all over the globe, except in Ramsay Street and Summer Bay I guess!

The last thing I need to say is the best grossing movie from Australia in 2003 was Fat Pizza. A show with characters from every facet of Australia and mainly Lebanese. Al other movies have not been able to garner this success and it is evident that Australian cinema is not able to develop the shows that Australians want to see.

Its time the movie makers look at the various groups in the fair land and start developing this wasted talent as it appears that people do not want to see movies about "me and be dumb mate".