“In the UK, only 17 per cent of people were born overseas. In France, 17 per cent. In Germany, it’s 19 per cent, and in Canada, a nation that has run a similar immigration program over many years to Australia, it’s only 23 per cent of people who were born overseas.
“So we can rightly claim to be the world’s most successful multicultural nation, and it’s something we should protect.”
Police estimated about 6000 protesters participated in the so-called “March for Australia”. Credit: Catherine Strohfeldt
Schrinner said the rate of change was so great, it was difficult to give an accurate vision for what Brisbane would be in the future.
“Whatever we might predict for the next seven years until the Olympic and Paralympic Games, and the next 10 years beyond that, I can tell you the future will look different to what we think it will look like,” he said.
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“So I could pitch you today a five-year program of building a particular type of infrastructure, or I could pitch you today that we’re going to build a million extra houses, or I could pitch you today something that, ultimately, I don’t have control over because I don’t know what’s going to happen next year.
“Instead, what I want to pitch you today is tapping into a vein within Brisbane’s identity, within Brisbane’s personality, that is real, that is undersold.”
That vein, Schrinner said, was boldness.
“In addition to protecting the harmony, the togetherness of our community on the common ground, we need to double down on being the place that takes some risks and that is bold,” he said.
“We need to double down on that humble ambition that Brisbane has, where we’re prepared to try things, to give it a go.”
In a Q&A session, Schrinner later said his speech was meant to be about the council’s new housing plan, but “it changed at the last minute”.
Schrinner, the son of a German migrant, gave no reason for that change.
Last month, Premier David Crisafulli – like Schrinner, a member of the LNP – warned the party faithful at their state conference to “not be distracted by ideological issues”.
“We must push back against those who come to this place and don’t wish to contribute, or worse, undermine our values, but we can’t allow a failure to plan as an excuse to push an anti-immigration agenda,” he said.
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