A new poll conducted by the Lowy Institute has found that support for multiculturalism in Australia has dropped from 2024.

In this year’s poll, 73 per cent of respondents expressed either “entirely positive” or “mostly positive” views towards cultural diversity, compared to 90 per cent in the last Lowy poll.

Additionally, those who expressed a “mostly negative” and “entirely negative” opinion on cultural diversity increased from 10 per cent in 2024 to 26 per cent in 2026.

The Rhetorical Debate

The results of this survey come amidst Pauline Hanson’s controversial National Press Club Address, where she publicly advocated for a “monocultural Australia”.

“We cannot be a multicultural society … We are a multiracial society, but we must be monocultural. Australians must live under the one cultural umbrella,” Hanson argued.

Hanson also invoked xenophobic sentiments, claiming that Western values are under siege, and attributing the government’s cowardice to the lack of action against Islamic extremism.

“We turn a blind eye,” she said.“Why? Because we are frightened.”

In 2016, when asked if Australia was still at risk of being swamped by Muslim migration, Hanson told the media, “not if I have anything to do with it.”

After a week of outrage against her monocultural vision for the country, Hanson reiterated her definition of a monoculture: “The Socceroos, in fact, represent my vision of a monocultural Australia. People from different backgrounds and cultures and nations all wearing the green and gold and representing one nation under one flag, and succeeding under the same set of rules.”

Hanson pointed to Japan as a model example for handling immigration, with foreign residents in the country expected to adapt to local customs and learn the Japanese language, with strict citizenship and long-term residency pathways.

However, bipartisan backlash from the establishment parties indicates that multiculturalism has not entirely lost relevance in contemporary Australian politics.

On ABC Afternoon Briefing, conservative Liberal MP Garth Hamilton called Hanson’s statements “a preposterous notion”.

“I don't want to drag the Socceroos into this either, I wish them well … I don't think she can claim [they are monocultural] at all. They represent Australia as it is—there’s people from all around the world here,” he said.

Speaking on the panel with Mr Hamilton, Labor MP Josh Burns agreed. “We are a hugely successful migrant country. I think that's something we all can be really proud of.”

“But Australia has tried to be a monocultural country in the past. It was called the White Australia policy,” he added.

Deputy Liberal Leader Jane Hume also rejected Hanson’s proposed monoculture, noting Australia was “already” a multicultural society.

“This is a ridiculous argument … I reject the politics of identity of the left on multiculturalism but, my goodness, I also reject the policy of cultural fear on the right,” she said.

When asked by the ABC on his views of multiculturalism, Liberal MP Andrew Hastie said: “[Multicultural] is now a loaded political term. Most Australians, when they talk about multicultural, think, you know, different foods, different backgrounds.”

“In the end, if a democracy’s going to function, you have to have a common set of values. It can’t just be a free for all, [living] according to how you think the world should be,” he added.

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Angus Taylor refused to commit to a similarly strong stance on multiculturalism—even under repeated questioning. Instead, Taylor stated he was unsatisfied with the current settings and that migrants are “not welcome” if they don’t adopt Australian values.

Speaking on 2GB, Taylor said he supported “a version” of multiculturalism.

Under Tight Supervision

Whilst, rhetorically, multiculturalism seems to occupy a safe position in Australian politics, the same cannot be said when it comes to support for recent migration.

Another poll by Lowy revealed that 55 per cent of Australians believe that the total number of migrants coming to Australia each year is too high in 2026.

In government policy, there has been an increasing effort in restricting immigration. 

Recently, following the US and Israel’s illegal war against Iran, the Migration Amendment (2026 Measures No 1) Bill was passed with bipartisan support, giving the Minister of Home Affairs the power to block people with valid temporary visas from travelling to Australia.

As war continues in the Middle East, the law could be used on over 61,000 people in the region.

Australian Greens leader Larissa Waters said this bill is “a new low from a Labor government who keep showing themselves to be morally bankrupt on refugee rights.”

The Liberal Party promises a strict, values-driven immigration system focused on reducing migrant numbers to alleviate the housing crisis. 

In the party’s policy platform, it has promised to deliver a plan that would cap net overseas migration each year based on the number of new homes completed, as well as make the existing Australian Values Statement an enforceable visa condition.

This year also saw the increase in the student visa (subclass 500) application fee from $2,000 to $2,500, as well as the increase of the Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485) application from $4,600 to $5,750—a 25 per cent jump and the second increase in four months.

Richard Lee, national vice president of the Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations (CAPA), warned against the cost increases which were “delivered without warning”, arguing that it “tells the best graduates that Australia is an unpredictable place to build a future.”

“These are people who chose Australia, studied here, and want to stay and contribute. We are making that harder, twice in one year, for no clear gain,” he added.

Jesse Gardner-Russell, national president of CAPA, echoed this sentiment, stating that international students are “a critical component of Australia’s global soft-power [sic] and part of our multicultural community.”

The Migration Amendment (Removal and Other Measures) Bill 2024 amended the Migration Act 1958 to expand the country’s offshore detention regime, granting the federal government the power to pay third countries to accept non-citizens for deportation.

This scheme has operated alongside the provisions legislated by the Home Affairs Legislation Amendment (2025 Measures No.1) Bill, which amended the Migration Act to deny migrants the right to natural justice or fair decision-making when the government arranges third-country deportations.

A report published in May of this year by the UN condemned this practice by states, confirming that offshore processing and deportation to third party states is illegal under international law.

It also raised the issue of how these arrangements heighten the risk of human rights abuses, and how it can lead to the separation of families.

The clear targeting of non-European immigrants in anti-immigration legislation, as well as, the Liberal Party’s emphasis on enforcing “Australian values” amongst immigrants more so mirrors the White Australia Policy and Hanson’s “monocultural” vision than the support for multiculturalism espoused by establishment politicians.

Multiculturalism occupies a fragile place in Australian politics and society. Whilst the concept is often openly welcomed, the reality reveals a desire to contain and control how it looks like.

As the legacy of the White Australia Policy persists in Australian politics alongside the prevelance of liberal visions of equality and universalism, multiculturalism continues to be a popular rhetorical tool politicians use to hide behind as they continue to push for anti-immigration policies.

Image source: Tracey Nearmy / Getty Images