Racism exists in Australia: Oz official
June 14th, 2009 - 1:34 pm ICT by ANIMelbourne, June14 (ANI): With attacks on Indian students continuing in Australia, Race Discrimination Commissioner Tom Calma believes there is a case to give a racist tag to them.
Calma admitted that racism existed in Australia, but said the whole country should not be blamed for it.
“We need to recognize that racism does exist in Australia. It doesn’t mean the whole society is racist but it does exist with individual’s actions and small group actions,” news.com quoted Calma, as saying.
Calma said Australia could not allow a repeat of the 1990s when racial comments by politician Pauline Hanson inflamed feelings across Asia.
“It’s important that we all accept that, understand and start to develop the frameworks to address it into the future and not be reactive but be pro-active. That is really what I think we are lacking at this stage,” he added.
Calma also feared that the sporadic attacks could affect the highly lucrative international student industry.
He said the authorities must start working with the community to ensure that measures are being implemented to prevent the attacks from swelling. (ANI)
- Racism is inherent in Australia: Aboriginal leader - Jan 15, 2010
- Australia conducting review to beef up law to tackle Internet racism - Feb 21, 2010
- Assault on Indians may be racist: Australian leader - Jan 15, 2010
- Australia to unveil new Multiculturalism Policy to tackle racial discrimination - Feb 16, 2011
- Community leaders feel it will take a generation to overcome racism in Australia - Jan 11, 2010
- 'Australia taking stern action against miscreants involved in attacks on Indians': Verghese - Feb 03, 2010
- Opposition leader declares war on racist Victorians - Feb 09, 2010
- Colour-blind racial ideology associated with racism, both online and offline - Apr 22, 2010
- Nine out of 10 Australians believe racial prejudice exists in the country - Jun 24, 2009
- Australia condemns Indian cartoon on racist attacks row - Jan 08, 2010
- Opposition leader slams Victoria Premier over attacks on Indians, racism - Feb 11, 2010
- Australia observes zero tolerance on racial attacks, says delegation - Jul 09, 2009
- Footballers' association demands Blatter's resignation on racism comments - Nov 17, 2011
- Australia's New South Wales has most racial tensions - Feb 23, 2011
- Former Oz-Indian victim calls recent incidents 'street violence' not 'racial attacks' - Jun 14, 2009
Tags: 1990s, asia, australia, authorities, calma, feelings, frameworks, group actions, indian students, measures, melbourne, oz, pauline hanson, politician, pro active, race discrimination, racial comments, racism, small group, sporadic attacks
