The make up of the Socceroos is a sign of Australia’s multicultural success, the prime minister says, rejecting Pauline Hanson’s claim the nation should be a monoculture.
The One Nation leader used an address at the National Press Club to call for Australia to be under one cultural umbrella while still being multiracial.
The controversial speech has prompted further criticism of One Nation as Senator Hanson’s party rises in the polls.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Australia had never been a monoculture, pointing to the Socceroos at the World Cup.
The 26-man World Cup squad comes from 15 cultural backgrounds, with two – Nestory Irankunda and Mohamed Toure – migrating to Australia after being born in an African refugee camp.
“We have had a rich culture, and when we look at the Socceroos, we see examples of that rich culture, people who are proud of their ethnicity, of who they are, but also who are proud Australians,” he told reporters in Canberra on Tuesday.
“Modern Australia is not a monoculture, and it never has been. Indeed, under pre-1770 and then 1788, there were many First Nations in this country, and since then, I think our diversity as a nation is a strength.”
Mr Albanese said Australia would not be able to move forward if debate on multiculturalism continued.
“It’s really a nonsense argument to go back to (a monoculture) that was actually never there,” he said.
“It’s an example of policies and vision for the country that isn’t thought through, that doesn’t represent who we are in 2026.”
Senator Hanson said Australia needed to be like Japan, with a singular culture.
“When we actually go to the Olympics, we represent our nation, like the Socceroos. It’s all under one flag, and that’s the Australian flag,” she told Seven’s Sunrise program on Tuesday.
“We’re multiracial, but at the end of the day, we must look at being Australians.”
It comes as the One Nation leader walked back comments that women should not be paid by their employers while on parental leave.
In her Press Club speech, Senator Hanson said employees should not be paid if they’re taking time off work, even if they’re on maternity leave.
“If women take time off and they are not paid their wages because they’re not working, fair enough,” she said in the speech.
“Why should business pay? But they’re not at work. That’s the difference. That’s why the pay gap is there.”
Less than a week later, Senator Hanson said the comments were taken out of context.
She said she supported government-paid parental leave, but businesses should not be forced to pay employees.
“It’s up to companies if they want to have it in their policy to give it to their workers,” she said.
“There’s no way, shape or form that I am actually saying to get rid of it.
“It’s been very beneficial to women to get back into the workforce. So that was totally taken completely out of context.”
Government-funded paid parental leave is set to be extended to 26 weeks from July 1.
Parents are able to share the six months of leave as they choose, with super also able to be paid on top of it.
Employment Minister Amanda Rishworth said she was not surprised by One Nation’s stance against parental leave.
“Paid parental leave provided by employers is a critically important payment that is made to the community,” she told reporters in Canberra.
“It is not actually a compulsory. It’s used by businesses to support women to keep women and make sure that they are able to stay connected to the workplace.
“It shows to me that Pauline Hanson and One Nation isn’t in touch with Australian workers.”