Consistent polls show Albanese’s Labor government sliding, yet as we head to federal elections, the race may well tighten. The contest over who governs Australia becomes real and polls matter less.
Minister Assisting the Minister on Multicultural Affairs, Julian Hill, says he remains confident.
“We are not complacent,” he adds.
“The moment the election is called, people start to focus on the real choice in front of them – it’s not an opinion poll.”
Hill says that Australians “take elections seriously.”
“They know they are about to vote for the next government. People may critique our communications, and much of the media has been institutionally hostile while social media is toxic, but I’m confident that we have a good record.
The multiculturalism minister accuses the Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, of “running around the country trying to make people angry, fuelling culture wars.”
Bolstering social cohesion
As a front-line figure in upholding social cohesion, Hill acknowledges the strain on multiculturalism—a bipartisan policy since the 1970s. While it has been effective in managing tensions from overseas conflicts, the October 7 Hamas assault on Israeli civilians and the ensuing war with Israel have ignited ideological battles beyond ethnicity.
Hill admits that cohesion is “under strain” yet remains “optimistic.”
“We’re doing well —we’re still a cohesive society – I’d rather be living in Australia than anywhere else when you look around the world.”
The rise of antisemitism, at levels not seen before in Australia, has disturbed many. Islamophobia has also surged.
“Certain groups in the community are very worried, and have been copping it, like the Jewish community,” Hill says.
The firebombing of the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne and an attempted firebombing of a synagogue in Sydney, after Nazi symbols were spray-painted on its exterior, have alarmed governments and institutions—particularly universities, which have been criticised for tolerating anti-Semitic rhetoric from anti-Israel activists.
“There has been a spike in Islamophobia,” Hill adds, citing a recent attack on two Muslim women in Melbourne’s northern suburbs.
Beyond the tensions arising from the Middle East conflict, Hill highlights other issues under his remit, including racism faced by African communities. In recent roundtable discussions with African Australian leaders, he heard concerns about systemic discrimination.
“Employment outcomes are worse, and yet many of them come as highly educated migrants from English-speaking countries with PhDs.”
While acknowledging the challenges, Hill remains hopeful.
He takes a broadside at the Greens, calling them “incredibly irresponsible.”
“The conflict in the Middle East will pass, and I feel confident that most Australians do not want overseas conflicts weaponised for domestic political purposes.”
“The Greens no longer represent Dr Bob Brown’s party from 40 years ago. They’ve been taken over by angry extremists who don’t even pretend to appeal to most Australians. They have the same political business model as Pauline Hanson and Clive Palmer.”
Independent multicultural media a role as democratic guardians
To bolster cohesion, Hill and Minister for Communications Michelle Rowland recently announced $11.4 million over four years to support independent multicultural media. Fact-based journalism, diverse political perspectives, and respectful dialogue are critical amid the rise of extremist and hyper-partisan discourse on social media says Hill.
Hill says, the policy was developed through the Multicultural Framework Review.
“At the end of the day, it’s a choice. You listen to advice, but you’ve got to make a choice,” he says.
“Do you agree that independent multicultural media outlets are an important part of our media landscape and our multicultural society? Or not?
“If you do agree, as I do, and as the Labor government does, then you’ve got to do something about it, not just issue press releases.
Hill says he is “proud” the government decided to invest in the sector, and lauds the work of multicultural media, “alongside the work or the so-called mainstream media”.
“Social media has given people a new way to connect, but we cannot stand by and watch all our smaller media outlets be obliterated by Google and Meta.”
Greeks the “shining example”
Hill says that the Greek community is a “shining example” of multicultural success.
“The Greek community has successfully passed on language and cultural traditions through generations while being fully part of the Australian community. That is an absolute model for others.”
He also shares concerns, reiterated by Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs Tim Watts, about the decline of language learning.
“The government has been providing direct support to community language schools. Growing up in Melbourne, everyone knew you couldn’t play with your Greek friends on Saturdays because they were at Greek school.
“We’re thinking about what more we can do to support community language schools that want to take kids through to Year 12 and fluency.”
Building on ethnic business links
Hill wants to strengthen partnerships with ethnic chambers of commerce to drive international business and welcomes ideas.
“I know these chambers are important to the national interest, and I’m open to all ideas about how we can better support them.”
He praises the work of embassies in trade and investment, calling their efforts “underappreciated,” then he takes a swipe at Dutton.
“Peter Dutton’s populist rhetoric about slashing the public service is dangerous.
“The idea that there are thousands of people sitting around doing nothing is fiction. Cutting 36,000 public service jobs would mean degrading services and undermining trade and investment facilitation. It’s just another privatisation plan.”
The political pugilist
Hill wants Australians to be reminded that his is “a decent and stable government”.
“There have been no scandals, no corruption. Inflation is coming down. Interest rates are coming down. Wages are growing. Unemployment is at a 50-year low, and we have a positive plan for the next term.”
In contrast, he says the Opposition “lacks any credible policies”.
“There’s no single costed, credible policy—just culture wars. You know, $600 billion of risky nuclear reactors, a wacky plan to push up house prices by letting people dump their retirement savings into the property market, and free taxpayer-funded long lunches for bosses—it’s just ridiculous.”
Hill also points to the immigration backlog under the previous government as an example of mismanagement.
“The former LNP government left us with one million citizenship and visa applications in backlog—an absence of a migration strategy in the national interest.
“Dutton was a terrible minister—good at politics, quick to run to a TV camera and attack vulnerable people, but on any measure, he was a disaster.
“Australian doctors voted him the worst health minister in 40 years, and he made a mess of Home Affairs.”
The Albanese government is now restoring integrity to migration policy, Hill says. It is he adds “revamping the skills shortage list, prioritising pathways for skilled workers already in Australia, and ensuring migration serves the national interest”.
“We need to recognise skilled workers already here—international graduates, visa holders, working holiday makers—who want to stay and contribute. That doesn’t add to housing pressures.”
Hill is determined to make the case for Labor’s record and vision as the election is around the corner.
“We’re putting Australia back on track. We have a plan, not just slogans.
In the end, Hill says, “The choice is clear: a stable, responsible government or an opposition with no real policies—just anger and division”.