ZANETA MASCARENHAS MP
MEMBER FOR SWAN
Statement on Liberal Leader’s comments about immigration
As the proud child of migrants, I’m deeply grateful for the opportunities Australia has given me. My family’s journey here wasn’t easy. In the early 1970s, when my dad first tried to come to Australia, the White Australia policy was still in place. The embassy in Kenya told him he had the "right skills but the wrong colour." His journey was only made possible because both Labor and Coalition governments eventually dismantled that policy which discriminated against migrants based on race.
Since then, my family made Australia our home—my dad working at a nickel mine in Kambalda, my mum dedicating herself to the community, and now me, serving as a member of the most multicultural federal parliament in Australia’s history.
I’ve experienced firsthand how stereotypes and assumptions can shape how people perceive you. I know I don’t fit the image some people have in mind when they think of a politician. But that’s exactly why my perspective matters—because it reflects the experiences of so many in our multicultural community.
We have made enormous progress when it comes to our nation’s social unity, and I know we’re on the right path forward. But there’s still much more work to do, and I’m proud to be part of a government driving that change. I don’t want us to go backwards to the 1970s, when we had an immigration policy based on race.
Unfortunately, not everyone in positions of political leadership share this view or understands the perspectives of multicultural Australians. The Liberal Opposition Leader, Peter Dutton, seems not only out of touch with the experiences and values our community holds, but uninterested in even trying to understand them. His recent comments about people fleeing the conflict in Gaza were not just insensitive—they were calculated to sow division and stoke fear for political gain.
Words matter, especially from those in positions of power. The Director-General of ASIO, Mike Burgess, has made it clear that inflammatory language from leaders directly threatens social cohesion and can incite violence. When leaders use divisive rhetoric, it doesn’t just create headlines—it puts real people at risk.
As political leaders, we have a duty to consider the impact our words have on the community. We can choose to build a future where our multicultural heritage is celebrated, and our society is united in harmony. Or we can choose a path of division, fuelled by fear and hate.
I choose the Australia I know and love—one that is inclusive, diverse, and proud of its multicultural roots. That’s the Australia I’m committed to serving and protecting, and I will continue to work hard to honour the opportunity this country has provided to me.
