At the time of the 2001 Census there were 209,372 Arabic-speakers at home in Australia. Arabic is the second most commonly spoken non-English language in Sydney. The Lebanese community in Australia is the largest and earliest arrival within the Arabic speaking community. In addition to Lebanese, the Arabic community includes Egyptians, Syrians, Iraqis, Palestinians, Jordanians, Sudanese. Many ethnicities also speak Arabic in addition to their language because they have lived in Arabic countries. They include Armenian, Kurds, Assyrians, Mandaeens and many more. The Arabic speaking community in Australia is increasing, with more arriving from Iraq and Sudan recently.
Green Left Weekly is proud to be publishing in its July 16, 2008 issue (#758, ) the first of what the paper hopes will be a regular Arabic supplement.
The Flame will cover news from the Arabic-speaking world and a progressive Arabic view on Australian political issues.
