FECCA Calls for an End to the Politicisation of Migrant Communities in the 2025 Federal Election
Australia’s peak multicultural body urges all political leaders to reject divisive narratives and endorse the Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA)’s Policy Platform for the 2025 Federal Election.
FECCA is calling on all political parties and candidates contesting the upcoming Federal Election to stop using migrant communities as a political tool.
FECCA Chairperson Peter Doukas said the nation’s migrant population deserves leadership that unites, not rhetoric that divides.
“Multicultural and migrant communities must not be used to score political points,” Mr Doukas said. “We strongly urge all candidates to run respectful, inclusive campaigns that strengthen our social fabric rather than tear it apart. This election must be about all Australians. Our cultural diversity is something to be celebrated, not weaponised.”
Australia prides itself on being a successful multicultural nation. Yet in the lead-up to the 2025 Federal Election, culturally and linguistically diverse communities have been drawn into divisive political debates. Leaders across the political spectrum are strongly urged to avoid turning migrants and multicultural Australians into political battlegrounds.
Citizenship ‘values’ tests and deportation proposals
FECCA is concerned over a proposal to toughen citizenship requirements such as including questions about antisemitism in the citizenship test and a referendum on deporting dual citizens convicted of crimes. These suggestions followed a viral incident involving two hospital workers allegedly making antisemitic threats. Many community leaders described the proposals as opportunistic and divisive.
Refugee bans linked to international conflict
Amid ongoing violence in the Middle East, there were public calls to ban refugees from Gaza, citing security concerns. These comments broadly characterised an entire population as potential extremists. The rhetoric drew strong criticism, including in Parliament, where it was labelled as racist and harmful.
Community advocates warned that such generalisations stigmatise displaced people and risk fuelling further racism in the political dialogue of the 2025 election.
Scapegoating migrants over housing and cost of living
Political discourse around housing and cost-of-living pressures has increasingly focused on migration levels. Some campaign narratives have blamed recent migrants for driving up housing demand, overcrowding cities, and straining public services.
This framing oversimplifies complex challenges and risks creating resentment toward migrants. National leaders and human rights bodies have warned that scapegoating migrants dehumanises individuals and undermines social cohesion. It shifts the focus away from structural solutions and fuels distrust in an already polarised environment.
FECCA is urging every candidate to commit to constructive discourse that celebrates diversity rather than exploiting it. FECCA’s 2025 Election Platform, “Governing for an Inclusive and Prosperous Multicultural Australia,” is a comprehensive resource outlining positive measures to strengthen social cohesion.
We encourage all candidates to read and publicly endorse recommendations highlighted in FECCA’s Policy Platform for the 2025 Federal Election which includes these key priorities for the next Federal Government:
- Human Rights & Anti-Racism: Enact a national Human Rights Act and invest in a comprehensive Anti-Racism Strategy to protect rights and combat discrimination.
- Cost of Living Support: Address rising cost-of-living pressures disproportionately affecting migrant and multicultural communities through targeted economic and social measures.
- Inclusive Governance: Increase cultural and linguistic diversity in political representation and ensure government services are accessible and equitable for all communities.
Again, FECCA urges leaders to rise above divisive narratives and champion a vision for a fair, inclusive and cohesive Australia.
The full FECCA Policy Platform for the 2025 Federal Election is available at https://fecca.org.au/updates/recommendations-for-the-2025-federal-election/.
