Premier Campbell Newman has urged Queenslanders to "embrace one another" and "to actually be enthusiastic and appreciative" of the nation's diversity.
Speaking at an Australia Day citizenship ceremony in his electorate of Ashgrove, Mr Newman, who said despite his first name had no Scottish "at all" in his heritage, alluded to the terror raids and Sydney siege and asked people to "keep that well and truly behind us".
But he also asked the new citizens to respect Australia's "democracy, our rule of law, our court system".
"Multiculturalism works," he said.
"It makes us stronger, it makes us richer. There are all sorts of wonderful things that take Australia forward from being a successful multicultural community."
Mr Newman said the world had given Australia much and it was up to its citizens to embrace the melting pot of cultures.
"We have ties to people all around the world that help us economically," he said.
"We have fantastic things that we can see and do, food and dance and festivals and it works.
"Today I say to you it only works while we continue to work hard to embrace one another, to understand one another, to actually be enthusiastic and appreciate of that diversity.
"There have been some things that have happened in the last year or so and we must keep that well and truly behind us. We must say that we are going to continue to make this country work and be so successful."
The last time Mr Newman attended this ceremony, he was the candidate at the 2012 election. His Labor opponent, former Ashgrove MP Kate Jones, was absent.
New citizens were also directed to Electoral Commission officers where they could enrol to vote.
The election will be held this Saturday.
