Paterson criticizes Hanson's monoculture push
Liberal frontbencher James Paterson has described One Nation leader Pauline Hanson's vision for a 'monocultural' Australia as 'deeply weird,' rejecting the notion that speaking languages other than English at home is un-Australian.
Speaking on Thursday, Paterson said: 'For decades, if not centuries, Australians have spoken other languages at home. I think this push to impose a government-down mandated monoculture is deeply weird.'
Hanson's controversial remarks
Hanson had earlier argued for a monocultural society, suggesting that diversity threatens Australian identity. Her comments drew widespread criticism from cross-party politicians and multicultural advocates.
Paterson, who is of Scottish descent, emphasized that Australia's strength lies in its multicultural fabric, noting that many families maintain their heritage languages while fully integrating into Australian society.
Political reactions
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also distanced himself from Hanson's views, stating that 'Australia's diversity is our greatest asset.' The Greens and independents similarly condemned the One Nation leader's stance.
According to the 2021 Census, over 5.5 million Australians speak a language other than English at home, representing 21% of the population. Paterson highlighted this statistic to underscore the normalcy of multilingualism.
