Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has issued a message marking the beginning of Ramadan, highlighting the contributions of Muslim Australians to the nation and reaffirming the country’s commitment to religious freedom. In his statement, the Prime Minister praised generations of Muslims in Australia for their work, community spirit, and dedication to the country, while also recognizing the challenges faced by the community due to ongoing conflicts abroad.
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) February 17, 2026
Ramadan, observed by Muslims worldwide, is a month of fasting, prayer, reflection, and charitable acts. It commemorates the period in which Muslims believe the Quran was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. Observance involves abstaining from food and drink from dawn to sunset, engaging in prayer and reflection, and emphasizing compassion and generosity. For Muslim Australians, Ramadan provides both a spiritual and communal opportunity to strengthen faith and bonds within their local communities.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics 2021 Census, approximately 813,392 Australians identify as Muslim, representing 3.2% of the national population. Of this population, a significant minority are converts to Islam, numbering an estimated 128,000, while the majority, around 682,000, were born into Muslim families. Children of Muslim-family backgrounds account for roughly 409,000 individuals, meaning that when combined with converts, about two-thirds of Australia’s Muslim population are either children or converts. These groups are often underrepresented in mosques, community programs, and local Islamic centres, yet they form a vital part of the community’s generational continuity and engagement.
900k Muslims in Australia, a christian country.
— mark pg (@mark16pg) January 17, 2025
In ten years, that number will be in the millions.
Politicians are determined to ruin this once great country.
In 2024, Australia recorded 448 victims of homicide and related offences, marking a 9% increase from the previous year, though the overall victimisation rate remained stable at two victims per 100,000 people. Men accounted for 63% of homicide victims, and the most common age group affected was 25 to 34 years. Over half of these offences occurred at residential locations, and nearly 40% were related to family and domestic violence. Sexual assault also rose during the year, with 40,087 victims reported, an increase of 10% from 2023, and the victimisation rate reaching 147 per 100,000 persons — the highest in the available time series.
In his message, the Prime Minister said, “Ramadan Mubarak. The sacred weeks of Ramadan are a chance for Muslims to affirm their faith, to reflect, to forgive and to practice acts of love and kindness. It is also an expression of the compassion, gratitude, and togetherness that have been the hallmarks of the story of Muslims in Australia. It is a long and proud story, one that has seen generations of Muslim Australians enrich our society with your hard work, your aspiration, your sense of community and your love of country.”
He continued, emphasizing national unity and the right to religious freedom: “At Ramadan, we reaffirm that our nation’s success, strength and unity is built on the fundamental right of every Australian to practice their faith in peace and safety, proud of who they are. We all take pride in the remarkable country we have built together and we all share a responsibility to safeguard it.” The statement also acknowledged the ongoing grief felt by Australian Muslims affected by conflicts in the Middle East, noting that while progress toward peace is encouraging, challenges remain.
The Prime Minister concluded his message with a personal note of support to the community, saying, “Over the month ahead, may your faith sustain and comfort you, and may it surround you with the love and nurture of others.” His message reflects a broader acknowledgment of the growing and diverse Muslim population in Australia and the role it plays in shaping the nation’s social, cultural, and civic landscape.
