Australian foreign minister defends multiculturalism, attacks far-right

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong launched a strong defense of multiculturalism, sharply criticizing the far-right One Nation party. In a speech delivered in Sydney on Friday, Wong argued that the party's call for a "monoculture" would harm social cohesion within Australia and damage relations with allies abroad. She warned that a monocultural society would "curtail our choices and cut off our connections."

Wong emphasized that the nation must remain vigilant against forces seeking to divide Australians, as doing so would increase the country's vulnerability. She did not explicitly name One Nation leader Senator Pauline Hanson but made clear that her remarks were directed at the prominent politician, who recently argued that Australia is in crisis due to immigration and multicultural policies.

The foreign minister dismissed the notion that Australia has ever been monocultural, calling such a claim a "melancholic fantasy." She stressed that multiculturalism is an integral part of Australia's identity, and that the idea of a monoculture would lead Australians to turn against each other.

"Walking inwards, having no friends to work with, no partners to trade with, no opportunities to grow from is to be lonely in a dangerous world," Wong warned. She argued that cultivating relationships with Asia has been beneficial, as Australia secured additional energy supplies during the recent closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Drawing on her own experience as a Malaysian immigrant, Wong praised Australia's multicultural society as a source of prosperity and strength. She emphasized that diversity enriches the nation and strengthens its democratic institutions, making it more resilient against coercion. Wong asserted that those who seek to divide Australia for political gain would only weaken the country at home and abroad.