An overwhelming 86 per cent of Australians believe multiculturalism has been good for the nation, according to the latest Mapping Social Cohesion survey from The Scanlon Foundation.

This strong endorsement of our nation’s cultural diversity follows similar high levels of support in 2013 and 2014.

This year’s survey also highlights our willingness to facilitate integration with close to two-thirds of respondents in favour of both Australians and new migrants adapting to a changing Australian society, or of the view that Australians should “do more to learn about the customs and heritage of ethnic and cultural groups in this country”.

These latest findings are a huge vote of confidence in Australia’s rich multiculturalism and contrast starkly with the divisive anti-multicultural rhetoric and action seen in other parts of the world. 

Labor is proud of Australia’s rich diversity and will always defend multiculturalism as a force for cultural, social and economic good.

We know multiculturalism has enhanced Australia’s economic prosperity and improved our social cohesion, but more needs to be done to support our increasingly culturally diverse community and to harness this diversity to build stronger communities and a stronger economy.

Labor will work to harness the economic potential of our diversity and make multiculturalism a key feature of policy development.

THURSDAY, 29 OCTOBER 2015