Wikimedia, Canva, The Conversation, CC BY-NCMulticulturalism first made its way into Australian political dialogue in the 1970s, with the idea that the country could, and should, be home to people from all over the world.Inevitably, there was backlash against the idea, with opponents arguing it was the creation of political elites, such as academics, bureaucrats, the “ethnic lobby” and left-wing politicians.Critics have been particularly vocal in recent times, arguing those in favour of multiculturalism champion an “ethnic rights” agenda at the expense of national cohesion.But this perspective ignores the important role that politicians of the right played in its development. In Australia, one stands taller than most: Malcolm Fraser.As Liberal prime minister from 1975 to 1983, Fraser made a series of decisions that would forever change Australia’s social fabric. His multicultural agenda would also become a defining feature of his political legacy.Politics and policy share a love-hate relationship, but we can’t have one without the other. In this six-part series, we’re chronicling how policies have shaped Australia’s prime ministers, for better or worse, and what it means for how politicians tackle today’s big challenges.Anglo assimilationWhen mass European immigration began in 1947, the Labor government under Ben Chifley pledged migrants would be quickly assimilated. Welcomed as equals, they would cast off their old ethnic loyalties and be absorbed into a homogeneous and cohesive (Anglo) Australian culture. To facilitate this, migrants were given moderately easy access to Australian citizenship. Community-based groups were tasked with educating newcomers into the privileges of the “Australian way of life”. A 1962 ABC broadcast asking people on the street what they think of the White Australia policy. By the mid-1960s, assimilation’s failures were obvious. Not all migrants embraced citizenship. Most refused to abandon their original ethnic identities. Growing social and economic disadvantage among low-skilled, non-English speakers resulted in adverse employment rates, health outcomes, income and English language capabilities. Migrants also demanded more input into the policies affecting them. Concerned about threats to social cohesion, the immigration department discarded assimilation in favour of “integration”. This acknowledged that migrants’ ability to maintain their cultural heritage, and the adequate provision of social services, were crucial to successful settlement.Ending ‘White Australia’The evolution of multiculturalism is often associated with the Whitlam Labor government. By the early 1970s, Australia had accepted almost three million new settlers. Whitlam cut immigration drastically on economic grounds, but advocated policies to enhance social equity for all Australians. Importantly, his government abandoned the White Australia Policy, which disallowed non-white immigration. It implemented a universal admissions system instead. A speech by Immigration Minister Al Grassby, called “A multi-cultural society for the future”, is often viewed as a defining early statement on multiculturalism. Several important initiatives emerged: the national Telephone Interpreter Service, English-language education centres, some state-based ethnic community councils and a fledgling ethnic broadcasting service. The Racial Discrimination Act was introduced in 1975, making it unlawful for a person to discriminate on the grounds of race, colour, descent or national and ethnic origins.Diversity, not divisionLiberal Malcolm Fraser had been extremely supportive of multiculturalism from opposition. As opposition spokesperson for labour and immigration, Fraser released a paper in 1974 that referenced multiculturalism. He was among the first politicians to adopt the term.As prime minister, he championed the policy fiercely. Fraser was an economic dry and a social liberal who supported mass immigration. He shared Whitlam’s belief that cultural pluralism was an asset to be fostered in the pursuit of social cohesion and equity. His government supported the recommendations of the 1978 Galbally Report. This acknowledged the “extensive cultural and racial diversity existing in Australia”, advocated for welfare and social services to be significantly expanded, and advised:ethnic groups themselves must take on the task of advising government of the need and priorities of migrants and ensuring that ethnic cultures are fostered and preserved.If Whitlam dismantled White Australia in theory, the Fraser government did it in practice. It accepted some 200,000 migrants from Asian countries, including nearly 56,000 Vietnamese people who applied as refugees. After decades of government-mandated European migration, this was a monumental change to Australian society.Multicultural programs also expanded significantly during the Fraser years. The Immigration Department became the Department of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs. Translator and Interpreter Services and language education services expanded. Malcolm Fraser, pictured here during a trip to Vietnam in 1970, welcomed thousands of Vietnamese refugees to Australia after the war. Peter Anthony Ward via Wikimedia Commons The research-oriented Australian Institute of Multicultural Affairs was established. Ethnic broadcasting evolved into a permanent service, SBS. Migrant resource centres assisted refugees and migrants with all aspects of settlement. The Federation of Ethnic Communities Council was founded, a publicly-funded umbrella organisation for the state-based Ethnic Communities Councils that mediated relations between governments and ethnic groups. Together, these programs constituted a uniquely Australian “ethnic rights” model of multiculturalism. Yet, as Fraser emphasised, there were limits to how much cultural pluralism a cohesive society could tolerate: multiculturalism is about diversity, not division […] It is about cultural and ethnic differences set within a framework of shared fundamental values which enables them to co-exist on a complementary rather than competitive basis.Lasting changeIn the years that followed Fraser’s prime ministership, multiculturalism changed shape.Public criticism mounted during the 1980s, with a report at the time referring to the policy as “social engineering which […] invites injustice, inequality and divisiveness”.The Hawke Labor government moved the emphasis from ethnic rights to citizenship. People could express their cultural identity, but only if they had an “overriding and unifying commitment to Australia” first.Political attacks increased after the 1996 election of the socially-conservative Howard Liberal government. John Howard later admitted he wanted to “end the divisive features of multiculturalism and place […] greater emphasis on those things which united us as Australians”.But decades on, Australia remains a highly multicultural nation, even as the politics around the policy shift. The key multicultural institutions set in motion by Whitlam and cemented by Fraser still remain, such as the Racial Discrimination Act and SBS. Successive Labor governments since 2007 have pledged their continuing support for multiculturalism, including the Albanese government. Five years before he died, Fraser named multiculturalism as one of his biggest achievements. The 2015 obituaries show how synonymous Fraser became with the diverse Australia we have today.As it reckons with a resurgent One Nation and attempts to formulate a new immigration policy, the current Liberal Party could do to remember its multicultural history, championed by one of its most successful leaders.Gwenda Tavan does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.