A separation between the state and religion is an integral part of maintaining social cohesion in a multicultural nation, an Australian state minister says.

The minister for multiculturalism and disability services in the state of New South Wales, Raymond Williams, told a group of visiting journalists at Sydney's Parliament House yesterday that religion has been largely divorced from the Australian political landscape.

"The one thing that never plays into party politics here in this country is religion.

"And when you got 140 different religions here in New South Wales, you're probably lucky," he said during an interview session organised as a part of an international media visit focusing on multicultural Australia that was sponsored by the Australian government's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

However, Williams (photo) stressed that freedom of religion is upheld as a right for all and this was evidenced by the number of various houses of worships throughout Australia.

"But in terms of politics, religion does not play a role whatsoever and I think the people have to understand that," he said.

He was responding to a question on the mounting racial-religious political rhetorics in Malaysia, in comparison to the Australian experience, particularly in New South Wales, where some 45 percent of its 7.8 million population come from ethnically diverse backgrounds.

"In some countries, religion and politics almost go hand in hand, but it just doesn't here.

"We acknowledge all of them, we accept them all, but when it comes to politics and representative duties, it (religion) is almost completely divorced (from politics)," Williams added.

When it was pointed out that Indonesia, like Malaysia, has been experiencing the heightened use of racial-religious rhetorics in politics, Williams said many countries could learn from the Australian approach of separating the state and religion.

"As I keep on saying, you (other countries) can take a leaf out of our (Australia's) book.

"Park your religion. Practice your religion but park it (separate from the state)," said Williams who was, however, quick to add that he notes the difficulties facing Muslim-majority countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia.

At the same time, he noted that nations as a whole should "grow up" and embrace the process of separating state and religion.

"I know that's pretty hard, isn't it? Because your religion is very much a part of your culture, so it does become very hard.

"We just have to grow up and I call it the maturing of nations," he said.

Aside from diversity of religion, Williams pointed out that New South Wales' current multicultural population also represents some 300 ancestries, who speak more than 200 languages.

He said the state has attracted some 1.3 million migrants over the last five years, comprising skilled workers, students as well as refugees.

As part of its efforts to promote multiculturalism, the state government, through its Multicultural NSW Department, offered a range of support services, including legal aid, translation and interpretation services, as well as promoting greater engagement with the local authorities.

Successes of the state's policies, Williams also explained, could also be seen in figures that included its estimated budget surplus of A$4.5 billion this financial year – amidst a backdrop of higher development spendings  – and an unemployment rate of 4.8 percent, one of the lowest in the country.

Aside from Malaysia and Indonesia, the visiting group on the nine-day tour across Darwin, Sydney and Canberra also comprises journalists and editors from Myanmar, Vietnam, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, India and Bangladesh.