World Immigration News

Australia’s fragile multicultural consensus under threat

Release Date: 2025-10-30
Media: EAST ASIA FORUM
Summary: Anti-immigration rallies held across Australia in August and October 2025 exposed deep divisions over migration, national identity and the future of multiculturalism. Although multiculturalism has been official policy since the 1970s, its meaning has shifted from a rights-based approach to one focused on social cohesion, productivity and, more recently, national security and control.

Public reactions to the rallies were split, with some linking the protests to economic pressures such as rising living costs and housing shortages, while others argued they were influenced by far-right and white supremacist groups. Politically, the Labor government has adopted a defensive stance by emphasizing reduced migration intake, while parts of the Liberal Party have moved closer to far-right positions. Support for the anti-immigration One Nation Party has also increased.

Changes in how multiculturalism is framed have been ongoing for decades. Earlier governments emphasized cultural diversity and migrant rights, while later governments linked multiculturalism to shared values, integration and security. Under recent administrations, social cohesion became increasingly connected to counter-terrorism and border control, often placing responsibility for cohesion on minority communities.

In 2025, the government elevated the Minister for Multicultural Affairs to Cabinet and created an Office for Multicultural Affairs. These moves signal a shift in tone, but concrete actions to address racism and structural exclusion remain limited. A national anti-racism framework proposed wide reforms, yet the government has not committed to implementing its recommendations.

The article concludes that Australia risks moving from inclusive multiculturalism to a model that manages diversity through surveillance and control, unless stronger steps are taken to combat racism and support genuine social inclusion.
Tags: Australia