Taking the Gloves Off: Why Multiculturalism Doesn’t Scare Me (It Excites Me)
- Shane Warren
- Sep 1
- 4 min read
Every so often, I find myself needing to take a deep breath, roll up my sleeves, and say what I really think, unfiltered. So here goes: Multiculturalism does not scare me.
In fact, it excites me. It inspires me. It challenges me to be a better version of myself. Because history shows us something very clearly: diverse societies don’t collapse - they thrive. They build richer cultures, stronger economies, and deeper opportunities for all of us to become our better selves.
So, let’s be blunt: if you’re peddling the so-called “Great Replacement Theory” garbage; for those who missed it, “Great Replacement Theory” is a scared voice that suggests migrants are here to “replace” some mythical pure population… If this is you, then I have two words for you: stop it. And if you insist on speaking out? Know your facts or shut up.
So let me help point you in the direction for some further research that might be worth doing…
The Myth of Being “Overrun”
Let’s start with the numbers, because fear mongering tends to play fast and loose with them.
That figure that keeps being thrown around some parts of the media and echoed by loud voices in Australia today - “1,500 people arriving in Australia every day” - sounds dramatic until you realise it’s based on tourism and travel data, not migration. Yes, arrivals and departures include business travellers, backpackers, grandma visiting from the UK, and returning Aussie expats. Not exactly the “replacement army” some imagine.
And yes, net overseas migration spiked post-COVID. Why? Because for two years, migration went negative. More people left than arrived. Those who had delayed their plans in 2020 and 2021 simply arrived later, creating a catch-up blip, not a demographic tsunami. By 2024, net migration was already dropping 37% from that peak. Hardly “floodgates wide open.”
“But What About Housing?”
Ah, the housing crisis or the go-to scapegoat… here’s the uncomfortable fact: in 2020, when migration was at a 100-year low, house prices were still skyrocketing. Supply and affordability are being driven by poor planning, speculation, land banking by rich corporations and policy inertia; not migrants renting your granny flat or ‘rich Asians’ buying all the houses at the auctions. Housing is a crisis issue in this country, but the problem is way greater and much deeper than the number of migrants moving into your neighbourhood.
Migrants Don’t Drain the System. They Build It.
Another favourite claim is that migrants take more than they give. Wrong. According to the Grattan Institute, each skilled migrant contributes a net benefit of $250,000 over their lifetime. On average, that converts to more in taxes than they ever receive in government services.
And before you say, “But what about Australian jobs?” consider this: 71% of permanent visas are allocated to skilled workers in sectors like IT, engineering, education, and nursing. Jobs we literally don’t have enough Australians to fill. Without them, the system would buckle. If anything, migrants are the ones keeping the lights on, the classrooms staffed, and the hospitals running.
Diversity Builds Greatness
Now, let’s step away from the numbers for a moment, because this is about more than economics. It’s about values. It’s about who we want to be.
Cultural diversity gives us:
Food and art and music and ideas that expand our palettes, perspectives, and possibilities.
Innovation, because creativity thrives when different minds collide.
Resilience, because societies with multiple cultural roots adapt faster and recover stronger.
History is very clear: from ancient trading cities to modern multicultural hubs, diverse societies are dynamic societies. Any study of history will tell you - monocultures stagnate; mixed cultures flourish.
The Great Replacement Nonsense
So, let’s address the elephant in the room: “Great Replacement Theory.” This isn’t a theory. It’s a conspiracy. It’s been used for decades to incite fear, spread racism, and justify violence. It’s toxic, it’s baseless, and it’s dangerous.
To believe in “replacement” is to believe that your identity is so fragile it can’t survive your neighbour speaking another language, your barista being from another country, or your child having classmates who look different. If that’s your position, then the issue isn’t immigration, it’s insecurity. And I have nothing more to add to that truth.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Is Not a Threat. It’s a Gift.
And finally, let me say this: DEI is good. Full stop. It isn’t a “woke plot.” It’s simply recognising that the world is bigger than one culture, one viewpoint, or one lived experience.
To reject DEI is to reject reality. To embrace it is to open doors, not just for others, but for yourself. So be brave, look around your home and see all that DEI has given you - be it the blend of teas in your kitchen, the coffee machine on your bench or the Wi-Fi network you are using to view socials every day… all this is a gift to you from others cultural connection to something that grew from good to great so we all can enjoy it!
My Challenge to You
On this one, I’m not mincing words. If you’re afraid of multiculturalism, take a long, hard look at history, at the economy, and at the communities you live in every day.
Because the truth is this: multiculturalism does not weaken us. It makes us.
And if you’re going to speak about immigration, migration, or diversity in this or any country? Bring facts. Bring compassion. Bring respect. Otherwise, maybe just bring silence.
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