Albanese cites Marrickville's Filipino grocery in a speech on multicultural Australia
On 15 October 2026, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese spoke at the Federation of Ethnic Communities' Councils of Australia (FECCA) National Conference at Parliament House in Canberra. He used a Filipino grocery near his old Marrickville electorate office as an example of what migrants contribute. He also noted that more than a third of Australia's small business owners were born overseas, and pointed to an $85 million investment in reforming how migrants' skills are recognised.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese addressed the Federation of Ethnic Communities' Councils of Australia (FECCA) National Conference in the Great Hall of Parliament House, Canberra, on Thursday 15 October 2026. The conference theme was 'Navigating Change, Shaping Australia: Many Stories, One Future'.
Describing the waves of migration through his home suburb of Marrickville in Sydney, Albanese said you can walk its streets and "get groceries from the Filipino shop, which was three doors down from my old electorate office". He added: "Everything that you can get in Manila, you can get in Marrickville."
Albanese said migrants work hard, pay taxes and underpin the health system. He said that "more than a third of small business owners in Australia were born overseas", and that migration has added to Australia's prosperity, from construction sites and businesses to classrooms, restaurants and doctors' surgeries.
On employment, he said nearly 350,000 migrant and refugee women work below their skill level. Only 41 per cent work in roles that match their qualifications, and they earn 31 per cent less than Australian-born women with equivalent qualifications. He pointed to the $85 million investment in migration skills recognition reform announced in this year's federal budget as a practical way to recognise people's skills and qualifications more readily.
The Prime Minister warned against people who exploit economic pressures by sowing division, and said all forms of racism and discrimination must be stood against. He also noted that the Federal Office for Multicultural Affairs has been re-established under Minister for Multicultural Affairs Dr Anne Aly. He closed with: "Let's not just aim for tolerance, let's aim for celebration."
For Filipino Australians, especially those working below their qualifications, it is worth watching how the skills recognition reform is rolled out. The full speech transcript is on the Prime Minister's website, and The Philippine Times has also reported on it.
Key facts
- Albanese addressed the FECCA National Conference at Parliament House, Canberra, on 15 October 2026.
- He said: "Everything that you can get in Manila, you can get in Marrickville," referring to the Filipino shop three doors from his old electorate office.
- He said more than a third of small business owners in Australia were born overseas.
- He said only 41 per cent of migrant and refugee women work in roles matching their qualifications.
- He cited an $85 million investment in migration skills recognition reform announced in the 2026 federal budget.
Official sources
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