One Nation has pledged to abolish the federal Office for Multicultural Affairs, remove the Minister for Multiculturalism and end government-funded translation services, arguing Australia’s multicultural framework has encouraged separation rather than integration.
The proposal, outlined by One Nation Senator Sean Bell during an appearance on Sky News’ Sunday Agenda, expands on the party’s push to reshape Australia’s immigration and multicultural policies following Pauline Hanson’s National Press Club address.
Bell said One Nation believed the current model of multiculturalism had failed.
“Multiculturalism is a government doctrine … what One Nation says is ‘No, we believe that multiculturalism is not working’. We believe it should be scrapped,” he said.
He added that the party would also dismantle the federal structures supporting the policy.
“Under John Howard, I believe they scrapped the multiculturalism minister (and) office of multiculturalism, as we would.”
The Office for Multicultural Affairs was established to coordinate the Commonwealth’s multicultural policies and promote what the government describes as “a coherent approach to multiculturalism and an inclusive society”. It also oversees national settlement and language services, including the Adult Migrant English Program and the Translating and Interpreting Service.
Bell said those government translation services should be removed as part of a broader push to encourage migrants to learn English.
The proposal follows comments he made in the Senate last week, where he criticised what he described as communities where English was rarely spoken.
“This approach limits opportunity, weakens social trust and allows imported conflicts and prejudices to survive across generations,” he told the Senate.
Speaking on Sunday Agenda, Bell argued translation services had become counterproductive.
“Those government translation services aren’t there to help them in their day-to-day work,” he said.
“Those government translation services are assisting them with government services and getting on welfare.”
He rejected suggestions that One Nation wanted to prevent Australians from speaking languages other than English in their daily lives.
“At no point have we said that people can’t be multilingual. What we are saying is that government services should be delivered in English”
“At no point have we said that people can’t be multilingual. What we are saying is that government services should be delivered in English,” he said.
“We shouldn’t be creating this situation where you’re encouraging a separation of society.”
The proposal drew an immediate response from Minister for Multicultural Affairs Anne Aly, who defended the role of translation services in helping new arrivals settle into Australian life.
“You can’t build opportunity and trust by locking people out of services they cannot understand,” she told The Daily Telegraph.
“Language support helps people find work, access help, raise their families and take part in Australian life. That is not separation, that’s inclusion.”
The latest announcement builds on a series of policies unveiled by One Nation in recent weeks, including plans to reduce migration, tighten student visa rules, abolish SBS, introduce a subscription model for the ABC in metropolitan areas and promote what Hanson has described as a “monocultural” Australia.
Language and integration have become recurring themes in the party’s platform. Hanson told the National Press Club that migrants should learn English before obtaining Australian citizenship, while Bell has argued government-funded language services reduce the incentive to integrate into the wider community.
The proposals come as One Nation continues to poll strongly, with recent surveys placing the party ahead of both Labor and the Coalition on the primary vote. Migration, housing affordability, cost of living and national identity have become central issues in the political debate, with both major parties facing pressure over population growth and settlement policies.
The Adult Migrant English Program has operated for decades, providing free English language tuition to eligible migrants and humanitarian entrants. The Translating and Interpreting Service supports people with limited English proficiency when accessing a range of government services.
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