Australia’s Social Cohesion Crisis

The Hon Sussan Ley MP
Leader of the Opposition
Federal Member for Farrer

Australia’s way of life is built on respect, on community, and on the belief that every person deserves to feel safe, valued, and at home here. We are a migrant nation. Our strength has been forged by generations of people who chose this country, worked hard, and came together around the values of fairness, tolerance, respect, and reward for effort.

That strength is now being tested. Since Hamas’ barbarism on 7 October 2023, new pressures have been placed on our social cohesion, and there have been multiple failures of government to keep our community safe and to keep it together. Synagogues have been firebombed with our Jewish community under siege.

Week after week, protests have taken place across our cities.

We have seen cherished landmarks like the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House turned into backdrops for division, with people supporting terrorist organisations and holding up images of the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei the leader of the Iranian regime who has sponsored global terror and on Australian soil, and supports Hezbollah, Hamas, and Islamic Jihad. People of goodwill have been present at recent demonstrations, but their voices were hijacked by those seeking to glorify terrorism. That can never be accepted.

This past weekend rallies occurred across Australia, attended by people of goodwill, but hijacked by neo-Nazis spouting hate, racism and resorting to politically motivated violence. That can never be accepted.

Extremism has no place in Australia. We must never import the bitterness of overseas conflicts into our communities. What unites us as Australians will always be stronger than those who seek to divide us. But we cannot take that unity for granted.

This is a moment that demands leadership. Our society is resilient, but its fabric is being steadily eroded by extremism. Australians expect their leaders to rise to the challenge, to call out hate in all its forms, and to bring the country together. The Prime Minister must show that leadership now.

The Coalition stands ready to work with the government to repair our social cohesion, to strengthen what binds us, and to ensure that every Australian, no matter their background or faith, can feel safe, respected, and proud of the country we share.