30/08/2025
Tomorrow, an anti-immigration rally is expected to take place in Melbourne — a city shaped by its resilience, generosity and multicultural heart.
While some may frame these rallies as patriotic, we must consider what narratives they promote and the harm they may potentially cause. Fear and blame do not solve complex challenges. They divide communities and make it harder for us to move forward together.
As an Australian Hazara, an immigrant, a lawyer and a human rights advocate, I know that migration is not a problem to be solved — it is a fundamental part of the human story. Around the world, people move across borders in search of safety, dignity and the chance to build a better future for themselves and their families. This has always been true — across generations and continents. It is not new and it is not unusual. Movement is part of who we are.
Like millions of others who have made Australia home, my family and I came here with hope and determination. We worked hard, contributed meaningfully and embraced this country not just as a place to live — but as a place to belong. Migration, far from weakening a society, brings resilience, renewal and strength. It is part of what makes Australia the vibrant, diverse nation it is today.
Across the country, migrants are carers, workers, small business owners, community leaders, neighbours, and friends. They do not weaken our nation — they shape it, sustain it and help it grow.
The challenges we face — in housing, infrastructure, and social services — are real and deserve thoughtful, evidence-based responses. Turning against each other does not bring us closer to solutions. In fact, it risks turning us away from the values that define us.
“There is no place in our country for people who seek to divide and undermine our social cohesion. We stand with modern Australia against these rallies — nothing could be less Australian.” — Tony Burke, Minister for Home Affairs
“Multiculturalism is an integral and valued part of our national identity. We stand with all Australians, no matter where they were born, against those who seek to divide us and who seek to intimidate migrant communities. We will not be intimidated.” — Dr Anne Aly, Minister for Multicultural Affairs
These words matter. Leadership matters. But so too does the quiet leadership shown by everyday people who choose kindness over suspicion, facts over fear and unity over division.
So tomorrow, while some may take to the streets in protest, I will continue to stand — in my work and in my values — for an Australia grounded in dignity, fairness and shared humanity.
Because the kind of future we build depends on the values we defend today.
