Malcolm Turnbull has told his world counterparts the need to build community support for migration has never been clearer at this time of global uncertainty about border control.
Addressing the United Nations summit on refugees and migration on Monday afternoon (local time) in New York, the prime minister shared the Australian story and call for more international co-operation in dealing with the movement of people globally.
Mr Turnbull cited SBS' contribution to fostering unity in diversity in Australia, which he described as one of the country's greatest strengths.
"At a time when global concern around immigration and border control is rising, the need to build community support for migration has never been clearer," he said.
"As just one example, there is SBS, founded nearly 40 years ago, the public broadcaster, not only broadcasting in dozens of languages, but interpreting and celebrating our multicultural society, and the values of mutual respect to the whole society.
"Diversity is an investment against marginalisation and extremism. It helps our community unite rather than be divided."
Mr Turnbull said addressing irregular migration by securing borders has been essential in creating confidence that the Australian government can deal with migration that focuses on those who need humanitarian assistance the most.
"Without this confidence, we would not have been able to increase our intake of refugees - the world's third largest permanent resettlement program - by more than 35 per cent," Mr Turnbull will tell the gathering, citing the decision to accept an additional 12,000 Syrian refugees.
"The unregulated movement of people globally is growing fast. we need measures to create order out of the resulting chaos."
Mr Turnbull conceded that not every country is an island and each must put in place policies to deal with its own circumstances.
"But the reality of people smuggling is one of profit from, and exploitation of, some of the most vulnerable people on earth," he said
"And we are all too familiar with the tragedy of lives lost at sea."
The prime minister talked up the need for strong international co-operation to help refugees migrate, as well as returning those who can go home safely.
"Australia is committed to playing a role that provides resettlement options to genuine refugees, that sees our multicultural society grow from strength to strength, and that supports international efforts to help the most vulnerable."
British Prime Minister Theresa May reiterated the need for countries to protect their borders.
"All countries have the right to control their borders, and protect their citizens and be equally clear that countries have a duty to manage their borders, to reduce onward flows of illegal and uncontrolled migration," she said.
Greece's Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras expressed the need to come to an agreement at the summit.
"If we do not agree in today's declaration to make strong effort to replace dangerous migration routes with legal ones, if we do not address the root causes of migration, if we do not accelerate the resettlement of refugees to countries around the world that can host them, we will fail," he said.
"And, what is worse, we will give space to nationalistic, xenophobic forces to show their face."
The summit, was also attended by Immigration Minister Peter Dutton, was a precursor to President Obama's high-level, invitation-only meeting on refugees to be held on Tuesday (local time) on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
With AAP
