Shadow housing minister Andrew Bragg has broken ranks with Liberal Party federal president Tony Abbott over multiculturalism having “failed”.
On Sunday, Senator Bragg was asked on ABC Insiders whether he agreed with the former prime minister’s “pretty inflammatory video” he posted to social media last week.
In the video, Mr Abbott insisted there were immigrants who had arrived in Australia who did not share the values enshrined in the citizenship oath.
The former prime minister also said that aspects of Islam were incompatible with liberal democracies, singling out the Bondi gunmen who “thought so little of our traditional commitment to freedom of religion”.
“Plainly, multiculturalism has failed and diversity is not our strength when two individuals have so rejected our national ideals,” Mr Abbott said.
Mr Bragg told the ABC that liberalism had “actually created multiculturalism” and that he did not agree with Mr Abbott.
“Well, I don’t agree with that. I make the point that liberalism has actually created multiculturalism, because it creates a framework for people to have freedom of religion, freedom of thought, freedom of conscience,” he said.
“The Liberal Party built modern Australia. If you look at the Menzies government opening up after the war, the Holt government abolishing parts of the White Australia policy and then Malcolm Fraser’s actions to promote multiculturalism and introduce things like the SBS.
“We have a very proud record to stand on, and it’s very important we’re clear about that.”
ABC host Patricia Karvelas asked Mr Bragg if he would like the Liberal Party president to “stop saying these things”.
“Look, I’m not his spokesperson,” Mr Bragg said.
“He’s a former prime minister, he’s entitled to his views. I strongly disagree with them.”
On the growing threat of terrorism and the prevalence of forced marriages, which the ABC has linked to climate change, Mr Bragg said it was not due to multiculturalism.
“Well, they’re very different things,” he said.
“The great thing about multiculturalism is that you can subscribe to the Australian nation, its laws and its culture, but you can engage in cultural practices as well.
“That is not a reflection or in no way similar to the issues flagged, which are very serious issues, around where certain parts of the community have engaged in violence against other parts of the community, or have sought to do things that are illegal, such as forced marriages.”
It came after One Nation leader Pauline Hanson rejected claims she supports the White Australia policy, saying she has “never ever” advocated for it.
The Sydney Morning Herald and The Guardian both wrote that Ms Hanson had “lamented” the end of the White Australia policy.
“You know those two leftist organisations that want to try and destroy myself and One Nation and discredit me?” Ms Hanson said.
“They’re false allegations that I wanted to introduce the White Australia policy. Not the case. Never, ever have I advocated that, and I don’t believe in it as well.”
