A statement of national policy on languages for Australia, submitted for government consideration in response to official concern, is presented. It begins with an introductory section on the importance of language, and then provides a rationale for national language policy formulation in Australia's varied language context. A section on policy looks at the status of English and other native languages in Australia, the scope and direction of the teaching and learning of those languages, language services (translating and interpreting, the media, public libraries, and language testing), and the structure and function of an Advisory Council on Australian Languages Policy (ACALP). General and specific policy and action recommendations are made in many of those areas. Policy contributions solicited from the states and territories are also included, and brief, related case studies are interspersed in the text. A bibliography and case studies of language schools, programs, and associations are appended. (MSE)