The Malaysian-born lawyer turned academic believes its a misconception to say 'Australia is a racist country'.

"There are obviously racial challenges many countries would have," he told SBS News.

"But it's not the same as equating the whole nation as being racist."

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"I've always espoused the view that Australia, compared to many other countries around the world, has a far better system, in the sense that it is a non-discriminatory system right across, and that has given us the backbone to be able to find opportunities in this country as well."

But he said to ensure that remains the case means ensuring equality in access to opportunities for individuals.

"I think education is an important element about defeating, combating, tackling racism. The counterpart arrangement is to ensure that we provide opportunities for people to get ahead financially, economically, socially.

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"And this an important factor to help people to feel independent, confident in themselves. And to be able, therefore, in many ways, help tackle racism."

He said it is regrettable that the office of race discrimination commissioner has become politicised, and he urged politicians to be more respectful when speaking on potentially divisive issues.

"Respect is terribly important to help engender that balanced capacity to be able to be sure that we don't divide," he said, adding that it also important that Australian society is robust enough to handle debate.

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"People are entitled, in a free country likes ours, to make those comments as they see fit.

"But I believe the strength of what we do is to have a community that has all the trappings and all the mechanisms and virtues necessary to ensure they do not dominate the lives that we have."

He said he won't be shying away from controversial race issues, such as a previous proposal to abolish section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act, which prohibits offending, insulting, humiliating, or intimidating another person, or group of people, based on their race, colour, national or ethnic origin.

But in the end, he wants to be effective and encourage less polemical debate.

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"If there is a public debate again, if there is, I suppose, an agitation or a view, an interest, about how we can change the law at any time, I'm happy to be a part of that debate," he said.

He said his ultimate wish is that race is not an issue that divides Australians.

"I see my role as uniting, and that that race should not be an issue which divides Australians. And my role is to ensure that we protect Australians, to ensure that they have the equal opportunity to proceed and to enjoy themselves as citizens of this country.

Mr Tan comes to the role after running the Victorian Multicultural Commission and serving as Director of Multicultural Engagement at Swinburne University in Melbourne.

Attorney-General Christian Porter announced his appointment, saying Mr Tan "will make a valuable contribution to our community by representing all Australians and upholding our values."

Mr Porter said Mr Tan's story echoes that of many Australians "who were born overseas and chose to make a new life in Australia."

Mr Tan officially starts in his new role on 8 October. He succeeds Tim Soutphommasane.