There has been a significant change in the overseas sources of migrants, with settlers arriving from more diverse regions of the world since the change in immigration policy in the late 1960s to one of non-discrimination on race or ethnic background. While most immigrants before 1966 were from Britain or Europe, since then many people from the Asia-Pacific region and the world have settled in Australia. Today, Australia's overseas born population consists of more than 140 recognised ethnic groups, speaking more than 90 languages and practising about 80 religions. This increasing ethnic and cultural diversity has changed the way Australians view both themselves and the rest of the world. It has further prompted the replacement of its policy of immigrant assimilation with a policy of multiculturalism which, it is argued, recognises the cultural diversity of Australian society and emphasises its positive aspects by improving immigrant access to government services. However, not all Australians appreciate and accept the concept or policy of multiculturalism. They see it as a threat to an image of Australia with which they are familiar and comfortable, and argue that immigrants should assimilate by speaking English and by mixing with, and behaving like, the rest of the population.
Alongside these differences are regional differences in population composition. The contrast between multi-ethnic major urban areas and more homogenous regional populations have intensified the sense of social and economic division already existing between the two. This has prompted various failed policies attempting to encourage migrants to settle in regional areas. An example is the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme enabling regional employers to sponsor immigrants.
Australia's future cultural diversity will meanwhile continue to reflect a decrease in the proportion of the population that is of British, Irish or other European origins, and an increase in the number of those of non-European origin. Current trends suggest a large majority of the population in coming decades will still have Anglo-Celtic or other European ancestry, with a large proportion of mixed ethnic origins. This will remain subject to changes in the level of overseas migration, future migrant-sources and the rate of intermarriage which can increase or decrease the extent of cultural diversity in the longer term.