Australia’s multicultural project has delivered enormous social and economic benefits, but recent governments have allowed it to drift, weakening social cohesion and leadership when it needs renewed attention most.

Multiculturalism is always work in progress. It can never be taken for granted. Recent Australian governments have marginalised multi culturalism and social cohesion.

Almost two years ago the government received an independent review of the multicultural framework. That review proposed a nation building cabinet level department of Multicultural Affairs, Immigration and Citizenship. The report also recommended improved ways to protect peoples’ languages; a citizenship process that is less about learning cricket scores and more about appreciating diversity and the importance of mutual respect; diversifying our media sector so it more effectively reflects and involves our minority communities; and ensuring that the arts and sports sectors are spaces for intercultural collaboration and cooperation.

But two years later very little has been done.

According to the 2025 Scanlon Foundation research 83 per cent of Australians agree that migration has been good for Australia although many are concerned presently at the at the level of migration and its effects on the economy and housing.

From Howard to Albanese social cohesion has had setbacks. We have brought ‘foreign conflicts” to Australia by abetting US-led or US-supported wars in Muslim countries from Iraq to Palestine. By failing to call out genocide in Gaza, large sections of our population are frustrated and angry. And rightly so.

But despite these setbacks multiculturalism will weather the storm.

Australian multiculturalism attempts to manage the consequences of diversity. It acknowledges the right of all Australians to cultural identity; the right within limits (eg forced marriages) to express their cultural heritage in such areas as religion and language; to social justice, the right to equality of treatment and opportunity, regardless of race, language, religion and gender; and to economic efficiency, the need to maintain and develop the diverse skills and talents of all Australians.

Assimilation assumes and hopes that newcomers will abandon their cultural identity. This is contrary to their own and the national interest. Newcomers lose self-esteem if their own culture is not acknowledged or regarded as of little value. They will join their new country with confidence and make a greater contribution if their unique cultural identity is valued.

Australian multiculturalism also importantly insists that with the rights of newcomers, go certain obligations. There must be an over-riding and unifying commitment to Australia and its future. There must be acceptance of the basic principles and structures of Australian society – the Constitution, Rule of Law, Parliamentary democracy, freedom of speech and religion, English as the national language and tolerance and equality. A superstructure of diversity can only be securely built on a common and secure sub-structure. Diversity for its own sake is not sufficient. The test is what it contributes to the common good.

Leadership of new communities is also very important. During the large-scale Indo-China program in 1979/83........

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