Drums beat for harmony in parliament

Both inside and outside the Senate chamber they were thrashing it out.

Senators were debating changes to the way Australians vote for the upper house, but in an adjoining courtyard the noise was more upbeat.

Transformed with colour and movement and an eager group of Burundian drummers, MPs and senators gathered on Wednesday to celebrate Harmony Day.

Keen to join in on the percussion action was Assistant Multicultural Minister Craig Laundy and Greens leader Richard Di Natale.

One of the guests suggested the group move to the Senate chamber, Mr Laundy revealed.

"See if we can shake things up in there ... I think it's not a bad idea," he said.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull preferred to stand back and observe, despite one of the drummers telling him: "It's not that hard."

Mr Turnbull said mutual respect underpinned Australia's great multicultural society and everyone was enriched by that diversity.

There was a time when some people talked about multiculturalism as separate enclaves.

"That's not Australia," he said.

The day was well-timed according to Opposition Leader Bill Shorten.

"After five parliamentary sitting weeks in the last seven I think a little bit more love and understanding and harmony will go a long way."

Australians need to be vigilant in an unpredictable world, but also about protecting tolerance, he said.

"Guarding jealously our cohesion."

As a son of Italian migrants, Senator Di Natale hoped one day Australia would have a governor-general of Syrian, Iraqi or Sri Lankan descent.

"We can't continue to talk about these issues through the prism of trauma and conflict, but hope and opportunity," he said.

Senator Di Natale also noted there was much more work to do to heal the wounds of indigenous Australians.