The father of four said he had taught his sons these principles, adding that "other cultures" - Lebanese, Indochinese and Pacific Islanders - had introduced weapons.

"We have to acknowledge that they have a different view about how they deal with each other," he said.

"It's not untoward for them to turn up to a fight with a hatchet."

Anti-Discrimination Board president Stepan Kerkyasharian said the entertainer's views were unrealistic.

"To suggest that if people of a particular kind of culture weren't here a particular kind of violence wouldn't occur is pure fantasy," he said.

"To suggest a type of violence didn't exist before is purely ignoring the realities of life."

Australian Race Discrimination commissioner Graham Innes agreed with Anderson that "some violence in Australia has a racial aspect" but said it had been going on since the goldfields in the 19th century.

"We need a zero-tolerance policy from government to say that multicultural violence is not tolerated," Mr Innes said.

"Violence amongst racial groups is not new - the white settlers were violent towards Aboriginal people."

Outside Parliament, Anderson, who has worked with numerous youth charities, said he grew up in 1960s Australia when "Aussie kids didn't use weapons".

"We've got to tell Lebanese kids and Indochinese kids that it might be all right where you come from but it's not all right here," he said.