Opened the debate
Laxale described how his community celebrates various cultural events such as Lunar New Year, Holi, and Nowruz alongside Australia Day, viewing these as shared joys rather than competing identities. Laxale criticised opposition leaders for suggesting migration standards are too low and for implying that multiculturalism weakens Australian identity. Laxale argued that blaming migrants for housing affordability issues is unsupported by evidence, noting that rents rose and prices surged during periods of closed borders. Laxale asserted that social cohesion is undermined by divisive language and that multiculturalism is a core Australian value that strengthens the nation.