Migrant Numbers Risk Diluting National Identity, Warns Nepalese Australian

A Nepalese Australian individual has voiced concerns that substantial immigration rates could dilute Australia's national identity, potentially leaving new arrivals without a defined understanding of what it means to be Australian.

Net permanent and long-term arrivals reached 494,540 in the 12 months leading up to January 2026, a figure close to a record high, according to data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The net figure for January alone was 57,270, marking the highest January total on record.

Speaking on ABC National Forum, the individual, identified only as Shankar, argued that the rapid increase in population is making it more challenging for newcomers to grasp the essence of Australian identity. "When people come in, they need to have a reference point," Shankar stated, adding that previous generations of migrants had a discernible identity to which they could assimilate.

Shankar questioned the reference point available for new migrants settling in areas like Western Sydney. "What do they assimilate to, what do they aspire to?... You can't just say it's multiculturalism, because if you try to cater to everybody, you become nothing," he said.

When pressed by host David Speers about specific concerns, Shankar noted that while migrants themselves are not the issue, "certain types of religious groups that are advocating for their needs and wants and getting to the high level of politics to advocate for that... You bring in a certain group in huge numbers and it stresses everything."

Shankar described Australian identity as a blend of Indigenous foundations and "Anglo-Saxon heritage, which is all around us and institutions are based on that." He suggested that the country's appeal lies in its ability to offer an identity that individuals can use as a basis for forging their own path.

However, Shankar clarified that culture should evolve rather than be preserved in a static state. "You don't preserve a culture, like in a museum," he explained. "What you do, is you take the good bits and you build upon it."

He further contended that rapid population growth is fracturing Australia's shared identity, leading to challenges as diverse groups arrive in large numbers and express dissatisfaction with established norms. "What's happening at the moment is that it is being fractured, because you've got many different groups coming in large numbers saying, 'Actually, we don't like that'," he said.

Shankar attributed the current situation to government policy, stating, "The government has allowed for this; it’s not the migrants themselves."

The current immigration debate unfolds as the Albanese government maintains the Permanent Migration Program at 185,000 places for 2025–26 and 2026–27, though internal allocations have been adjusted. The Coalition has proposed reducing net overseas migration to 100,000 for its initial two years in government, followed by increases to 130,000 in the third year and 160,000 in the fourth, estimating this would decrease the temporary migrant population by approximately 650,000 over four years. One Nation has suggested cutting 750,000 temporary visas, aiming to push net overseas migration below zero for three years before reaching 130,000 in the fourth year.