Dr Tim Soutphommasane  was speaking to graduates of the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation in Wagga on Friday.

Dr Soutphommasane invoked the contribution of former Prime Minister John McEwen, who as a trade minister forged a trade agreement with Japan in 1957.

“(It was) a significant act of nation-building leadership. We should not forget the strength of hostile sentiment that still existed towards Japan in those post-war years,” Dr Soutphommasane said.

“Australia is at its strongest when it is bold and open.”

However, it was more than international trade which benefited from Australia being “open and bold”.

“We are at our best when we are guided by hope rather than fear, ambition rather than indifference – not least on matters of race, immigration and multiculturalism.”

Dr Soutphommasane challenged the audience to become part of the nation-building story.

“Ask what citizenship must mean for you, to ask how it is that you must lead,” he said.

“Good leaders are those who empower others, who elevate others.

“This is one of the hard parts of talking about racism. Sooner or later, you have to challenge social power, to challenge the status quo – to ask whether there may be some in our society who are unfairly burdened because of their background.”