A national campaign against racism plans to enlist the help of high-profile Australians to stand in as community representatives. The campaign will communicate the benefits of multiculturalism, amid concerns of ongoing discriminations against groups such as Muslims, black Africans and Aborigines.
The government has set aside $1.7 million towards the national anti-racism partnership and strategy, spearheaded by federal Race Discrimination Commissioner, Dr Helen Szoke. The Australian Human Rights Commission (HRC) and Federation of Ethic Communities Councils of Australia (FECCA) are also in talks for the campaign. FECCA chairman Pino Migliorino said the campaign aims to “communicate to the public through community activities, the ethnic media, as well as ethnic community organisations”.
“We’re also very keen to start campaigning online to broaden our reach. Hopefully the online capacity will encourage more community representatives to be involved.” Migliorino adds that racism is still present in Australian society today and is quite institutionalised, particularly in areas of employment. “We hope to scrutinise straight out racism in the workplace, access to employment appropriate to people’s skill and issues to do with re-employment.”
The campaign, which is currently still in its early days, will also address issues on housing and how members of ethnic communities may be disadvantaged in the private rental market, Migliorino says. Dr Helen Szoke recently commented that since 11 September 2001, the backlash against Muslims has been exacerbated and is still considerably high. Victims of racism can make complaints to the Australian Human Rights Commission. For more information go to www.hreoc.gov.au.
