UN CALL FOR ACTION ON RACISM MUST BE HEEDED

The United Nations has called for urgent action to combat racism, including for “national action plans against racial discrimination.”

 

Labor, and multicultural communities have been saying the Australia needs a new national anti-racism strategy.

Appalling racist incidents have become an almost daily occurrence during the COVID19 pandemic.

Chinese-Australians have been subject to awful racial abuse.

This isn’t just an Australian phenomenon. Racism, like the virus, is a global challenge. We need to fight it with the same urgency as we have been fighting the coronavirus.

The UN recommendation specifically refers to the importance of a public education campaign against racism, like the Racism It Stops With Me campaign defunded in 2015.

Other countries have demonstrated a clear commitment to responding to increased levels of racism during the pandemic. Australia should do the same.

Labor recognises the hurt that racism does to people, and we stand in solidarity with Chinese Australians at this difficult time.

Labor also understands the threat that racism poses to our social cohesion and to modern Australia’s greatest achievement - our multicultural society.

The vast majority of Australians are doing the right and pulling together during this crisis. But more needs to be done.

The Morrison government must commit to a national anti-racism strategy. Only then can we truly say that we are all in this together.

You can stand with Labor against racism by joining our campaign against racism at www.alp.org.au/standagainstracism.