Varun Ghosh (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Minister Watt. Australia is a modern nation that has benefited from our embrace of multiculturalism, and you only need to look around this new parliament to see that. Overwhelmingly, people of different ethnicities, different religions and different backgrounds live in harmony. Can the minister explain how a balanced migration policy benefits our great nation?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thanks, Senator Ghosh, for your question. I think it's an important one.

Australia doesn't have a race based migration system, and nor should we. We dealt with that as a nation 60 years ago. Over the years, Australia has become a great multicultural nation—a place that is world-renowned for its welcoming and accepting attitude towards people from all corners of the globe. We're a modern nation that has benefited from our multiculturalism. Over the decades, migrants to Australia have made incredibly important economic contributions to our country, like the vital trade ties developed with the world and the skills and investment they have brought to our shores. But there are also the benefits you can't measure on a Treasury graph. The cultural impact of living alongside people from different backgrounds and of experiencing different perspectives through welcoming new people to Australia cannot be overstated.

Of course, a growing population needs homes and infrastructure to cope, and that's why the Albanese government has invested so heavily in the housing and infrastructure needed by those living in and moving to Australia. Those efforts to build more homes and infrastructure have been opposed every time by a coalition that did nothing to increase housing supply during its wasted decade in office and now seeks to blame migrants for housing pressures in Australia. The coalition has spent this week dog-whistling and foghorn-blowing to stoke division in our community on migration. The so-called Liberal Party is so busy looking for someone to blame that it has forgotten that half of all Australians were born overseas or have parents born overseas.

Australians know we are strongest as a nation when we stand together, not look for reasons to build walls between each other. And the Albanese government and Labor will always strengthen the unity that makes Australia the best country in the world.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Senator McKim, your almost running commentary throughout the minister's entire answer was incredibly disrespectful. Senator Ghosh, first supplementary?

Varun Ghosh (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On the weekend, we saw some of the worst elements of our society fanning anti-immigration sentiment across the country, and this was the latest in a growing trend of fringe groups trying to divide Australians. Can the minister outline what the government is doing to ensure social cohesion is maintained within our society?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The public displays of hate, the violence and the trumpeting of division that we saw on the weekend are not the values Australians hold dear. As public office holders, we have an important role to play in promoting social cohesion. But the coalition are, once again, trying to divide us for their political gain. Just like they've always done, when they run out of solutions they run towards division, dancing to the tune of Senator Hanson and One Nation, rather than backing a strong, unified, modern Australia. All week, we've seen coalition senators falling over themselves to get into the media and blame migrants for housing shortages the coalition oversaw. And, of course, it led to yesterday's interview on the ABC by Senator Nampijinpa Price, someone the Liberals were so desperate to poach from the Nationals and who made a terrible smear on the Indian Australian community. That community makes a huge contribution to our country, and it's one that our side of parliament is incredibly proud of. Senator Nampijinpa Price and the Leader of the Opposition should apologise for these offensive remarks. (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Ghosh, second supplementary?

Varun Ghosh (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Since those protests, there has been a lot of commentary about migration policies and how they interact with other policies in government, like housing. Can the Minister explain how the government's policies are helping all Australians and if there is broad support for our approach?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Albanese government is investing in housing, infrastructure and social services, while ensuring we also have a migration system that balances our need for skilled workers with having a sustainable population. This used to be a bipartisan position in Australia, but it's disappointing to now see the Liberal Party fanning the flames on an issue that should be well and truly behind us. I know there are some opposite who know the approach being taken by the Liberal Party is wrong. We've seen Senator Bragg tell the ABC:

… it's important that we don't beat up on migrants. I mean, it's not a good idea to say that the housing crisis is all because of migration.

And we see other coalition senators—and I'm looking at a few right now—trying to ingratiate themselves with multicultural communities in their hometowns, but then this week they came to Canberra and joined One Nation to oppose motions that reject racism, white supremacy and condemnation of immigrants. Australia's social cohesion is precious and fragile, and I urge the coalition to think very hard before they continue scratching at their anti-immigration itch.