Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong has found herself at the centre of a growing political storm after a social media video celebrating multiculturalism triggered a wave of criticism across the country.

Filmed in Melbourne’s Chinatown precinct, the polished campaign-style clip was intended to highlight Australia’s multicultural success story. Instead, it has ignited a heated debate about immigration, national identity and who should be credited for building modern Australia.

In the video, Wong described Melbourne as one of the world’s great multicultural cities and praised the contributions of both Indigenous Australians and recent migrants.

“It’s great to be in Melbourne, one of the great multicultural cities of the world, that’s been built by so many people, from our First Nations Australians to our newest migrants,” she said.

What may have been intended as a message of inclusion quickly became a flashpoint online.

Critics argued that the statement overlooked the role played by generations of British and European settlers who helped establish Australia’s major cities, industries, farms and infrastructure over more than two centuries.

The controversy intensified when Wong turned her attention to Opposition Leader Angus Taylor and his proposal to restrict taxpayer-funded welfare benefits for non-citizens.

Wong accused Taylor of attempting to divide Australians based on when their families arrived in the country.

“You might have heard Angus Taylor wanting to divide Australians depending on when our families arrived here,” she said.

She then pointed to migrant workers employed throughout Australia’s healthcare and aged-care sectors, questioning what the proposal could mean for their elderly relatives.

“Imagine the migrants who staff our hospitals, who work as carers, not being able to access services for their parents or grandparents.”

Wong concluded by arguing that Labor’s approach was focused on unity rather than division.

“Labor wants to bring this country together. We value the contribution of every Australian.”

However, the remarks quickly spread beyond the original audience.

Independent journalist Drew Pavlou shared the clip on social media platform X, posing a question that rapidly gained traction among critics.

“I wonder if anybody else contributed to building up Australia?”

The post attracted thousands of reactions and reignited a long-running debate about the country’s history and cultural identity.

Many commenters argued that Wong’s comments appeared to diminish the contributions of earlier generations of Australians.

One social media user wrote: “Funny how she erases the British and European settlers and pioneers who actually built the cities, roads, farms and nation.”

On Instagram, one of the most-liked responses accused the government of creating greater social division.

“What a load of hogwash. Don’t you get it? You’re making White Australians feel like the minority in their own country. On your watch we are becoming more divided.”

Adding fuel to the controversy was lawyer and political commentator Katherine Deves, who publicly criticised Wong’s remarks.

“When Penny Wong peddles this propaganda, where are the misinformation, disinformation and hate-speech laws?” Deves wrote online.

She also questioned whether taxpayers should be supporting elderly relatives of newly arrived migrants.

“Why should generational Australians constantly pay for people who have never contributed to the system?”

The comments further intensified debate, with supporters and critics clashing across social media platforms.

The dispute has once again highlighted Australia’s deeply divided views on immigration and multiculturalism.

Supporters of Wong argue that Australia’s modern success has been shaped by waves of migration and that recognising those contributions is both accurate and necessary.

Critics, however, believe the political focus on multiculturalism often comes at the expense of recognising the foundational role played by earlier generations of Australians.

The controversy has also revived discussion about Wong’s previous involvement in community outreach events aimed at specific cultural groups, including a Chinese community town hall event in Melbourne that attracted criticism during the lead-up to last year’s federal election.

While supporters described the gathering as an effort to engage directly with the Chinese-Australian community, opponents argued it highlighted growing concerns about identity politics in Australia.

For now, Wong’s comments continue to divide public opinion.

To some Australians, her remarks were a celebration of the diverse communities that have helped transform Melbourne into one of the world’s most successful and multicultural cities.

To others, they represented yet another example of political leaders overlooking the contribution of those who laid the foundations of modern Australia.

What began as a short video promoting multiculturalism has evolved into a national conversation about history, identity and belonging — and the question of who Australians believe deserves recognition for building the nation they call home.