Australia cannot control wars and political upheavals overseas, but it can choose whether those conflicts are allowed to fuel division, suspicion and hatred at home.

Australia cannot stop wars overseas. We cannot prevent political upheaval in distant countries or control every piece of misinformation circulating on social media. But we can decide whether those conflicts and divisions are allowed to take root here.

That choice has never been more important.

Around the world, societies are becoming increasingly polarised. Wars, political upheaval and identity-based conflicts no longer remain within national borders. Through social media and 24-hour news, events unfolding thousands of kilometres away can inflame emotions and shape relationships in Australian streets, workplaces, schools and universities within hours.

Australians should care about what happens beyond our shores. Many have deep family, cultural and historical connections to other countries. Compassion for people affected by war, persecution and humanitarian crises reflects our common humanity.

But caring about conflicts overseas is very different from allowing those conflicts to divide Australians at home.

Australia has something precious to protect.

Our modern multicultural nation stands alongside the enduring cultures, histories and custodianship of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, the First Peoples of Australia, whose connection to this land stretches back more than 65,000 years.

Over generations, Australia has become one of the world’s most successful multicultural societies.

The figures tell the story. According to the 2021 Australian Bureau of Statistics Census, 29.5 per cent of Australians were born overseas, while 48.2 per cent were either born overseas or had at least one parent born overseas. More than 7.6 million Australians were born in another country, more than 300 ancestries are represented........

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