Dear Rabbi.  Pauline Hanson said Australia must exist as a “monocultural society”  What would Judaism have to say?  J. K.

Rabbi.  One Nation is the most pro-Israel party in Australia. Would you vote for them?  L.B.

In her maiden address to the Australian National Press Club, One Nation leader Pauline Hanson declared Australia “cannot be multicultural and must exist as a ‘monocultural society.’”

I have no idea who wrote and edited her speech but whoever it was should no longer be in the job, as that ridiculous statement has very sadly, once again, called into question Hanson’s credentials as a potential leader. Such a pity because most of the rest of her speech was eminently sensible – but people will only remember the “mono” word.

Multiculturalism as a political philosophy, like many “isms”, is a policy which one can support or oppose. However, as a demographic fact, Australia is multicultural, whether Pauline Hanson, I or anyone else likes it or not. Italian, Greek, Croatian, Chinese, Filipino and Aboriginal Australians, not to mention Aussies of British, Irish, New Zealander and South African extraction inter alia make up the melting........

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