Australia stands at a critical juncture. The rise of far-right sentiment, exemplified by One Nation’s persistent anti-immigration rhetoric, threatens the very values that have shaped our nation’s success. Behind the populist slogans lies an unmistakable truth: this movement is driven by monocultural anxiety and thinly veiled racism that has no place in modern Australia.

The “anti-immigration push” isn’t really about protecting jobs or preserving culture. It’s about fear of the unfamiliar, wrapped in nationalist fervour. When politicians rail against migration, they ignore inconvenient facts: immigrants drive innovation, fill critical workforce gaps, establish businesses at higher rates than Australian-born residents, and contribute billions to our economy annually. They bring skills, perspectives, and dynamism that enrich our social fabric immeasurably.

Yes, Australia’s past is stained by the White Australia Policy and the ongoing impacts of colonisation. But we’ve also built something remarkable: a multicultural society that, at its best, embodies the “fair go” ethos. Walk through any Australian city and you’ll encounter the fruits of this openness: vibrant cuisines, thriving cultural festivals, medical professionals who’ve come from overseas, university researchers advancing knowledge, and countless small businesses run by Australians born overseas. This isn’t despite our diversity. It’s because of it.

The far-right agenda isn’t uniquely Australian. Across Europe and the Americas, we see the same playbook: scapegoat immigrants, stoke cultural anxieties, promise a return to an idealised past that never truly existed. These movements thrive on division, offering simple answers to complex challenges. But Australia doesn’t need to follow this destructive path.

We can choose differently. We can be the beacon that demonstrates multiculturalism works, that openness and inclusion create stronger, more prosperous societies. This isn’t naïve idealism; it’s pragmatic recognition of what has made Australia successful on the world stage.

The stakes couldn’t be higher. If we allow fear-mongering and exclusionary politics to take root, we betray the contributions of generations of migrants who’ve built this nation. We abandon those seeking refuge and opportunity. Most damagingly, we diminish ourselves by moving backwards rather than forward.

Australia must resist this tide. Not just for immigrants, but for all Australians who benefit from living in a dynamic, diverse, forward-looking nation. The choice is ours: become an inward-looking society governed by suspicion and exclusion or reaffirm our commitment to the values that truly define us: fairness, openness, and the fundamental belief that everyone deserves opportunity.

Our future depends on choosing wisely.

 

10/1/2026