Australia has told European countries its model of multiculturalism is “the best in the world”, weighing in on a fiery debate in Britain, France and Germany where leaders have called the project a failure.

Immigration Minister Chris Bowen said Australia’s assimilation of different cultures was “genius” because it encourages immigrants to integrate as citizens rather than behave simply as “guest workers”.

“To me, multiculturalism is a bit like a marriage. It has its stresses and strains,” said Mr Bowen.

“We have to remind each other occasionally that we are better off with each other. It takes nurturing; it takes care.

“It is in that spirit tonight that I quite proudly proclaim that Australian multiculturalism has worked. That not only has Australia benefited from the immigration of those who come from diverse backgrounds, but we have also benefited from the cultures they have brought and sustained in this, their new homeland.”

Mr Bowen’s strident defence comes after British Prime Minister David Cameron called for a “muscular liberalism” to force the country’s diverse population to coexist more closely as a society.

Chancellor Angela Merkel last year declared that German multiculturalism has “utterly failed”, while French President Nicolas Sarkozy also called his country’s policies a “failure”.

“Germany has regarded immigration as an economic necessity. A requirement for guest workers has driven an economic immigration policy,” he said.

Australia has absorbed generational waves of immigrants, from Chinese during the 1800s Gold Rush to Vietnamese, Italians, Greeks, Eastern Europeans and finally large numbers of Indian students in the past few years.