Al-Issa’s visit highlights Australia’s multifaith future

The meeting between Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Dr Al-Issa reflects a wider recognition that effective diversity management relies on social trust as much as policy frameworks.

Khodr Saleh , SA Newes:

The recent visit of the Secretary-General of the Muslim World League, Dr Mohammad bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, to Australia was not simply another diplomatic engagement. It was, in effect, a reminder that social cohesion in a society as diverse as Australia cannot rely on legislation alone. It requires sustained effort, credible partnerships, and a willingness to engage with institutions capable of influencing communities beyond the reach of government.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s meeting with Dr Al-Issa signalled as much. His acknowledgement of the League’s work in promoting cross-cultural understanding reflects a broader shift: that managing diversity is no longer just a matter of policy design, but of social trust.

Australia’s demographic reality makes this unavoidable. More than 30 per cent of Australians were born overseas, and nearly half have at least one parent born abroad. Hundreds of languages are spoken across the country. Diversity is not an abstract concept it is the lived condition of Australian society.

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“Social cohesion cannot be sustained by policy alone — it must be built through dialogue, trust and meaningful engagement.”

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The challenge, then, is not whether diversity exists, but whether it is being effectively managed. In that context, Dr Al-Issa’s visit has been viewed as a timely and constructive opportunity. Not because it introduces a new model, but because it reinforces an existing one: that dialogue between cultures and faiths must be practical, continuous and embedded within communities.

Dr Al-Issa emphasised that dialogue between religions and cultures is fundamental to stability, and that diversity should foster connection rather than division. This message aligns closely with Australia’s multicultural framework — but alignment alone is not enough. The real test lies in implementation.

The Muslim World League’s expanding global role, including its engagement with United Nations platforms on interfaith dialogue and countering hate speech, reflects a broader evolution in how religious institutions contribute to social stability.

That evolution matters domestically. As global tensions intensify, their effects are increasingly felt within diverse societies such as Australia.

Governments provide the framework. But they cannot build cohesion alone.

Engagement with credible institutions is therefore not symbolic — it is practical. It strengthens trust, reinforces shared values and supports a more resilient social fabric.

At a time when identity-driven tensions are rising globally, the real question is not whether societies are diverse, but whether they are resilient — and whether diversity can be transformed into a source of strength rather than division.

Khodr Saleh is a Sydney-based journalist and commentator, and a former Australian politician and Deputy Mayor.