Anna Henderson’s Canberra: most Australians don’t want a ’monoculture’

In her recent address to the National Press Club, One Nation leader Pauline Hanson said Australia should be 'monocultural' rather than multicultural. But is that a popular view in the community? Lowy Institute polling has recorded a decline in support for cultural diversity in Australia, albeit from a very high level of support (from 90% in 2024 to 73% in 2026). Lowy also identified a growing belief that migration to Australia is 'too high' (55%). Meanwhile, annual reporting from the Scanlon Foundation has consistently found that a strong majority of Australians 'agree that multiculturalism has been good for the country' (83% of surveyed participants in 2025). 

• Guest: Anna Henderson, chief political correspondent, SBS