And having just come from a meeting of APEC in Kuala Lumpur, and that is an organisation that brings together leaders of all of the pacific nations, and therefore a great cross-section of that enormous community, it was a reminder to me of just what a special intersection of those circumstances of history, geography and culture and other things that Australia really occupies. And we do have insights and understandings because of that particular background and the diversity of that background that gives us an opportunity to project a view which is superior and more enlightened and more comprehending of what is needed in that part of the world than that possessed by any other country. Our diversity is a source of great national strength. Particularly since World War II, migration has made an enormous contribution to Australia's economy, Australia's society and Australia's culture. There is not an example anywhere else in the world of the successful absorption of such a diverse group of new citizens.
Multiculturalism involves the principle of mutual obligation.
Within the framework of an overriding commitment to Australia, it respects the right of each individual to celebrate his or her particular cultural identity in an atmosphere of tolerance, understanding and mutual self respect. As a Liberal Party Prime Minister I am proud to be the recipient of the Liberal Party heritage of compassion and commonsense in relation to our immigration programme. In the post World War II years, both sides of politics pursued policies which brought millions of migrants to Australia and greatly strengthened Australia. Liberals, in particular, are grateful that it was the Liberal Party of Australia that did away with the White Australian Policy. It was under the Fraser Government that Australia realised its full humanitarian obligation by taking on a per capita basis, a larger number of refugees from war torn Indo-China than any other country in the world.