“Social cohesion is about everybody. Making multicultural communities solely and wholly responsible for social cohesion, I think, has added to that perception of multicultural communities being over-securitised, being responsible for things like social cohesion.”

Aly said Australia should remain “vigilant about social cohesion”.

Last year’s review also raised concerns about the Department of Home Affairs, with communities feeling like they were being monitored or managed, rather than supported.

“That’s why we’ve established this office to carve out Multicultural Affairs and to give it a spotlight within the department and within the caucus and within the government more generally as well.”

“Although it is sitting within Home Affairs that we [need to] ensure that there is more of an inclusive approach and more celebratory approach, rather than giving the feeling or the sense that there is an approach of monitoring or creating marginalisation.”