Australia PM praises diversity in language schools pledge day after neo-Nazi action

FILE PHOTO: Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese speaks to the media during a press conference with New Zealand's Prime Minister Christopher Luxon at the Australian Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, August 16, 2024. REUTERS/Tracey Nearmy/File Photo

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Saturday cultural diversity was the country's strength as he pledged A$25 million ($15.98 million) for students to learn languages other than English, a day after a neo-Nazi disrupted a public gathering in Melbourne.

Albanese, entering the final week of campaigning ahead of a May 3 general election, said if re-elected his government would support 600 community schools that help more than 90,000 students across Australia learn 84 languages.