Rethinking our approach to multiculturalism
“For decades, we have celebrated Australia as a model multicultural society. The idea was simple — instead of forcing immigrants to abandon their heritage, we would welcome their foods, languages, and traditions. And to a large extent, this has worked. But cracks have begun to show. The government’s multicultural policies, especially through departments and grants for ethnic groups, have unintentionally encouraged separateness rather than integration. Funding cultural groups may seem harmless — even noble. Yet, these grants can foster dependency, isolation, and resentment. Communities that are continually funded to 'preserve culture' may have little incentive to mix more deeply with the broader society. Meanwhile, the majority population often sees such support as favoritism. The result? Frustration, division, and sometimes — as we saw on Sunday — public anger. Instead of creating one community enriched by many cultures, we risk creating parallel societies. It’s time for Australia to rethink its approach. That doesn’t mean abandoning cultural diversity. It means supporting it in ways that foster unity rather than division.”
Balvinder Ruby

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