7 October, 2026
Immigration policy sits at the core of who we are as a country, and the kind of Australia we want to be.
This week’s Coalition policy announcement advocating significantly reduced net overseas migration is deeply concerning because of its implications for our cultural diversity and our identity as a nation.
As Australians engage with this issue, the values we communicate are just as important as the policies we propose.
Australia can have a serious debate about migration without turning migrants and refugees into the problem.
Our public conversation about immigration policy must be grounded in human dignity, compassion and a confidence that cultural diversity enriches rather than diminishes our nation.
Ultimately, immigration policy is about who belongs.
A confident nation does not fear diversity. It recognises diversity as a strength in our common life.
In 1985, the Uniting Church in Australia declared itself a multicultural church, recognising and celebrating the rich diversity of God’s peoples. We continue to seek a community in which cultural and linguistic diversity is welcomed as a gift and where barriers that divide people are overcome in the spirit of the Gospel. That identity shapes our core belief that national debate should reflect the value of every person and their place in society.
This deeper understanding of belonging becomes even more urgent when considering the proposal to halve Australia’s humanitarian intake at a time when conflict and displacement are forcing millions of people from their homes.
The migration debate is about much more than numbers. It is about people seeking safety, opportunity, and a future for themselves and their families.
The Uniting Church in Australia has a longstanding commitment to welcoming the stranger. This commitment is grounded in Scripture and reflected in the life of Jesus himself, whose family crossed borders as they fled violence.
Together with churches across the country, we seek to live out Christ’s call to stand alongside those who are vulnerable and in distress, including those who come to our nation needing protection and a chance to rebuild their lives.
At a time of growing global instability, Australia must play its part in offering a place of refuge.
People who were born elsewhere and have chosen Australia as their home are our neighbours, friends and colleagues. Their stories are woven into the story of contemporary Australia. Our public discourse about migration should reflect this reality and avoid narratives of scarcity and division.
What matters is not only the policies we pursue, but the tone and values that shape our national debate. We should approach these discussions with confidence in the strong and diverse society we have built together and continue to shape.
As followers of Christ, we believe every person is created in the image of God and worthy of dignity and respect. We pray that Australia’s conversation about migration and humanitarian protection will be grounded in those values and shaped by a vision of a society in which all people can flourish and contribute to the common good.