Multicultural Access and Equity Policy, 'Respecting diversity. Improving responsiveness', is about ensuring that all Australians receive equitable access to government services regardless of their cultural or linguistic background. The approach aims to maximise the benefits to Australia of its culturally and linguistically diverse society through addressing barriers to effective participation in Australia’s social and economic life.

The policy consists of six dimensions – Leadership, Engagement, Performance, Capability, Responsiveness and Openness – with minimum obligations attached to each. It covers all engagement and communication of government departments and agencies with multicultural communities, not just direct service delivery.

The policy also enables reporting to be more transparent and departments and agencies to be more accountable by requiring them to develop and implement of two-yearly Agency Multicultural Plans.

Resources to assist departments and agencies in understanding and meeting their Multicultural Access and Equity obligations include a Multicultural Access and Equity Policy Toolkit and the Multicultural Language Services Guidelines for Australian Government Agencies.