Party's attack on multiculturalism 'malicious'

The Chair of Australia’s peak multicultural body says the formation of a new political party opposed to multiculturalism in Australia is a 'malicious’ move aimed at destabilising a long-standing government policy.

A Mosque was attacked in Sweden. (AAP)

The Chair of Australia's peak multicultural body says the formation of a new political party opposed to multiculturalism in Australia is a 'malicious' move aimed at destabilising a long-standing government policy.

The leader of the Catch the Fire Ministries, pastor Danny Nalliah, registered the new political party which opposes multiculturalism.

His Rise Up Australia party is planning on fielding candidates in several states at next year's federal election in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Pastor Nalliah says multiculturalism threatens the Judeo-Christian West because it involves acceptance of the Islamic religion.

But, he says, he is for multi-ethnicity.

“We are opposed to multiculturalism, we are for multi-ethnic Australians.”

The Sri-Lankan born Christian pastor says he loves Muslims and homosexuals but says the Islamic faith and homosexual activity are both a threat to society.

“Multiculturalism opens up a doorway for Islam to come in. Muslims have to be loved, Muslims have to be looked after. It's not a fight against Muslims”, he told SBS.

But he said the teachings of Islam are "detrimental to Western civilisation."

“Islam particularly is culture, religion and law”, he explained.

'CLOUDED' IDEAS

Pino Migliorini, Chair of the Federation of Ethnic Communities' Councils, said the distinction between multiculturalism and multiethnicity is nonsensical.

“To me it's conceptually clouded, it doesn't make a lot of sense…there's no definitional difference.”

Migliorini said it was a “conservative and negative approach” which is the latest in a line of attacks on multiculturalism which built up over the Howard years.

“What we need to do is bring in another perspective which is social justice, about equity and a fair go – there should be no discrimination because of background, nor should systems inadvertently discriminate, for example against people who don't speak English”, Migliorini said.

“It's purposely trying to destabilise what has existed as a government policy on and off for twenty to twenty-five years.”