I often heard our former Immigration Minister Philip Ruddock say that Australia is the most successful multicultural nation in the world, and it is a sentiment that certainly resonates with me.
Australia is now proudly home to people from almost every country across the globe, speaking over 200 languages. Our diversity as a nation is one of our greatest strengths.
Between the 2001 and 2021 census, the percentage of people born overseas in The Hills Local Government area increased from 28% to 43%. In particular over that time, the number of local residents born in India has increased seven fold and the number of residents born in China has increased five fold.
The increasing multiculturalism to our nation and to the local Hills area has had so many benefits. For many decades, as the birth rate has declined, the population growth in our nation has largely been driven by immigration, and this has significantly increased our national GDP. New migrants each year contribute over billions of dollars to the national budget.
The vast majority of our migrant population are highly skilled and contribute significantly to the national workforce, including here in The Hills. They contribute in key professions, delivering critical services and have also helped drive productivity growth. Children of immigrants score higher average academic results and lift our national educational performance.
Our multicultural makeup makes us a more knowledgeable, more vibrant and more open minded community. We have a greater opportunity than ever before to learn from different cultures and learn from each other. We have never had a greater exposure in The Hills to food, clothes, music, film, events, entertainment and more from around the world, bringing us greater joy and opportunities. Events such as Diwali, Lunar New Year and Holi bring such enjoyment to our family and thousands of other local families. Films such as the multi award winning ‘Roads Old and New’, have inspired, educated and connected our community. Multicultural community groups such as the India Club and The Hills Chinese Association have also contributed so much to the local area and to broader society.
Each of us are part of the multicultural fabric of The Hills community and our story is just beginning. I am excited to see the rich multicultural community fabric in The Hills continue to evolve, grow and prosper in the years ahead.
