Senator Andrew Bragg, a senior Liberal frontbencher, has publicly distanced himself from remarks made by Liberal Party president Tony Abbott, stating he 'strongly' disagrees with the claim that multiculturalism has failed.
Speaking on ABC's Insiders, Bragg clearly distinguished Abbott's comments from the Liberal Party's official stance on multiculturalism. Abbott had recently released a video asserting that "multiculturalism has failed, and diversity is indeed not our strength," linking his criticism to concerns about terrorism, antisemitism, and social cohesion.
When asked if Abbott's assessment was correct, Bragg immediately rejected the proposition. "I don't agree with that," he said. Bragg argued that multiculturalism is rooted in liberal values and has been advanced by successive Liberal governments, citing historical actions such as the Menzies government's post-war immigration policies, the Holt government's dismantling of parts of the White Australia policy, and Malcolm Fraser's initiatives to promote multiculturalism, including the establishment of SBS.
"We have a very proud record to stand on, and I think it's very important that we're clear about that," Bragg added.
When questioned about the helpfulness of Abbott's intervention in his new role as party president, particularly given the divisive nature of his remarks, Bragg acknowledged concerns but stressed they should not be conflated with multiculturalism itself. Abbott's video had advocated for Australia to "celebrate diversity less and unity more," suggesting migrants should integrate more fully into Australian society and questioning whether multiculturalism had encouraged the retention of cultural practices at the expense of national cohesion.
Bragg stated that issues like terrorism and forced marriage, while serious, are illegal under Australian law and are not representative of multiculturalism. "They're very different things," he explained. "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."
He cautioned against viewing acts of violence or criminal behavior as a reflection of multicultural Australia, noting that these issues are distinct from the principles of multiculturalism. Bragg stopped short of directly criticizing Abbott's decision to release the video but reiterated his disagreement with its central argument. "He's a former prime minister, he's entitled to his views, and I strongly disagree with them," Bragg said.
Reports indicate that a growing number of Liberal MPs are reportedly frustrated with Abbott's repeated public interventions, arguing that party policy is determined by the federal parliamentary party room, not the party president. This follows a June incident where Opposition Leader Angus Taylor and Nationals Leader Matt Canavan rejected Pauline Hanson's call for Australia to become a 'monoculture,' a position Abbott had supported. Abbott had stated that Australia has a "Celtic culture" and a "foundational Judeo-Christian ethos" that should not change, and that altering the nation to suit migrants would be a disservice to both migrants and Australians.