Racial Discrimination

Editor: Justin Healey
ISBN 978 1 920801 88 5
Year 2008

Price: $20.95

  

Racial Discrimination
Volume 278, Issues in Society

Australians generally pride themselves on living in a tolerant multicultural society, however racial tensions are often never far from the surface. Ethnic diversity brings with it cultural enrichment and a range of social and economic advantages, however some would argue that it also breeds mistrust and resentment. While support for multiculturalism has fallen over the years, most people still strongly believe Australia is not a racist society. This book examines racism and racial intolerance in Australia; laws which counter racial hatred, vilification, and direct and indirect racial discrimination; Islamophobia and religious intolerance; racial profiling and the media’s representation of certain ethnic groups; treatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples; racism in sport; and ways of moving beyond racial tolerance to understanding.

Chapter 1 Anti-Discrimination Laws and Racial Attitudes
Guide to the Racial Discrimination Act; Guide to the Racial Hatred Act; Sedition, incitement and vilification: issues in the current debate; The downside of difference; Voters disagree with PM on racism; Most still enjoy a culture cocktail; If there is prejudice, there is also tolerance; Rise in attacks on Jews tests forgiveness; Children cast judgement on Muslims; Love thy neighbours: racial tolerance among young Australians.

Chapter 2 Addressing Racial Intolerance and Discrimination
 Ethnic stereotypes too easy in the blind rush to judgement about others; Our shared, core values are but a myth underpinning this new racism; Racism is not simply black and white; Racism tag merely muddies the wider debate; Underlying racism denies a fair go for all; Freedom based on tolerance; Anti-semitism in Australia; Muslim integration still a simmering discontent; History gives no grounds for Islamophobia; Racism and public attitude; The representation of Islam and Muslims in the media; Racial profiling dangerous; This is indeed a lucky country – but only for whitefellas; What's the score? A survey of cultural diversity and racism in Australian sport; Breaking down racism 101 – get to know the person first; Racism in schools 'underestimated'; Cultural and linguistic diversity; Cancelling out racism.

Glossary; Facts and Figures; Additional Resources; Index



FAST FACTS from this volume
  • Australia ratified the Intenational Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination on 30 September 1975.
  • The most important thing Australia has done to uphold the Convention is to pass the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth). It began on 31 October 1975. Each of the states and territories has adopted similar legislation.
  • The Act supports the principle that everyone has a right to enjoy the same fundamental freedoms and human rights – regardless of their race, their colour, their descent (ancestry), their national origin, their ethnic origin or, in some cases, their immigrant status. Treating people differently because of these characteristics is against the law under the Act. This is called racial discrimination.
  • On 13 October 1995, the Act was changed so as to give additional protection to people who are being publicly and openly offended, insulted, humiliated or intimidated because of their race, their colour, or their national or ethnic origin. This part of the Act is known as the Racial Hatred section.
  • Although the Act does not prohibit discrimination or vilification against someone because of their religion, there are other laws that apply in this situation.
  • The Act prohibits 2 different types of discrimination: "direct discrimination"; and "indirect discrimination" – when discrimination is hidden, or is less obvious than direct discrimination.
  • Examples of situations in which people might be dis-criminated include: employment; land, housing and accommodation; education; providing goods and services; access to places and facilities meant for use by the public; advertising; and trade union membership.
  • It is not against the law to make racial distinctions in private life, or as part of 'special measures' designed to help groups or individuals who have been unfairly treated and now need support to help them fully enjoy their human rights. For 'special measures' to be lawful, they must: be by either a government body or a private organisation; be helpful to some or all members of a group who share a common race, colour, descent, national origin or ethnic origin; have the sole purpose of assisting the group to enjoy human rights and fundamental freedoms equally with others; be necessary to making sure that the group achieve that purpose; and stop once their purpose has been achieved. The special measures cannot last forever – even if they take a long time to achieve their aim.
  • Prohibited racial hatred behaviour can be using speech, images or writing in public. Some examples include: writing racist graffiti in a public place – including school playgrounds or bus stop shelters; making racist speeches at a public rally or assemblies; placing racist posters or stickers in a public place; making a racially abusive comment, joke, song or gesture in a public place – including shops, workplaces, parks, public transport, and schools; offensive racist comments or drawings in a newspaper, leaflet, website or other publication.
  • The Racial Hatred Act, introduced in October 1995, extends the coverage of the Racial Discrimination Act  so that people can complain to HREOC about racially offensive or abusive behaviour. It aims to strike a balance between two valued rights: the right to communicate freely and the right to live free from vilification. The Act covers public acts which are: done, in whole or in part, because of the race, colour, or national or ethnic origin of a person or group; and reasonably likely in all the circumstances to offend, insult, humiliate or intimidate that person or group.
  • At present religious vilification laws exist in 3 Australian jurisdictions – Queensland, Victoria and Tasmania. Laws that restrict free speech by making unlawful vilification on the ground of religion are extremely controversial. The encouragement of tolerance in a multicultural society is one thing; its enforcement by means of religious vilification laws something different again. Very strong advocates can be found on both sides of the argument, for and against such laws.
  • Through the 20th century, belief in the inherent superiority of white races was slowly discredited. The last poll to show majority support for the White Australia Policy was conducted in 1957 and few people will now admit to pollsters that they believe in the intrinsic superiority of one race over another.
  • Racists are not one-dimensional, evil people. They can be good people too, and often are. Not many people engaging in racism see themselves in the image of our dominant negative stereotypes of what a racist should be like: a sleazy white supremacist, a violent skinhead or a guard in a Nazi concentration camp.
  • There are about 280,000 Muslims in Australia today, making Islam the third largest faith in the country. Muslims, however, still only make up 1.5 per cent of the population. The Australian Muslim community is also extremely diverse, being made up of ethnic Javanese, Malays, Pakistanis, North Africans, Iranians and Afghans, alongside the 20 per cent of the community who were born in an Arab country.
  • 'Race' is a social idea used to maintain group boundaries and position some people as 'other', inferior to or excluded from the dominant culture that is regarded as 'normal'. There is a consensus among scientists that 'race' is not a valid biological concept, but the idea continues to be used with very negative consequences for individuals and groups.
  • Racism happens everywhere. It can be obvious (overt) or hidden (covert). It takes different forms, but always involves the misuse of power by individuals, groups and communities against each other.