Australia's Foreign Minister Defends Multiculturalism Against 'Monoculture' Calls

Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong is set to deliver a speech defending multiculturalism, framing it as the "only Australia that has ever existed." The address, to be given at the Lowy Institute in Sydney, is a direct response to the growing influence of the far-right One Nation party, which advocates for a national "monoculture."

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Multicultural Australia is the only Australia that has ever existed.

Wong, who is the first federal minister of Asian heritage in Australia, plans to caution against both external and internal forces attempting to fracture the nation. She intends to highlight the successes of refugees in business and sports as evidence of multiculturalism's strength. Census data indicates that half of all Australians were either born overseas or have a parent who was.

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The melancholic fantasy of a monoculture would cause damage to Australia’s international security and trade connections.

"The melancholic fantasy of a monoculture would cause damage to Australia’s international security and trade connections," Wong is expected to state. Her remarks come as One Nation, led by Pauline Hanson, has surged in popularity according to recent polls, potentially positioning it as a kingmaker in the next election. Hanson has previously drawn controversy for referencing Australia's historical "White Australia" policy.

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Those who seek to divide us for clicks and votes should know that they make us weaker at home and more vulnerable in the world.

Wong plans to argue that calls for a monoculture would force Australia to limit its choices and sever vital international connections. She will emphasize that division weakens the nation domestically and makes it more vulnerable globally. This stance aligns with the center-left Labor government's approach, which acknowledges "legitimate concerns" about the economy and housing that may be fueling support for the far-right, while Prime Minister Anthony Albanese insists on bringing people together in the national interest.

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The call for a monoculture is a call for Australia to curtain our choices and cut off our connections.