The Andrews Labor Government has welcomed a joint submission by more than 60 local community groups that calls for existing federal racial discrimination laws to be protected.
Minister for Multicultural Affairs Robin Scott today met with Victorian representatives from a number of multicultural, faith and Aboriginal community organisations to voice the Labor Government’s support for the Racial Discrimination Act.
Together with Government MPs, they demonstrated their unity with a symbolic linking of arms on the steps of Parliament House.
A federal inquiry is currently being held into the efficacy of the Act and Section 18C, which deems it unlawful to “offend, insult, humiliate or intimidate” based on a person’s race or ethnicity.
The Labor Government will make a submission emphasising:
- the on-going contribution of multicultural and indigenous communities to Victoria
- the need to protect individuals and communities from racial vilification
All Victorians – regardless of where they come from, the language they speak or the faith they follow – deserve strong legislative protections.
In May 2014, then Multicultural Affairs Minister Matthew Guy said: “There should be no changes to the Federal Racial Discrimination Act and we’ll be very, very clear in our submission to say so.”
Like the previous state Liberal Government, we fully support the Act as it stands – and will continue to do so.
The Labor Government’s submission will be made available after December 9.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Multicultural Affairs Robin Scott
“Discrimination based on race, gender or religion is never OK. People have the right to be accepted for who they are.”
“Any attempt to water down Australia’s hate-speech laws and undermine our history of multiculturalism will not be accepted by the Andrews Labor Government.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Natalie Hutchins
“It is a sad fact that discrimination is part of everyday life for Aboriginal Victorians.”
“At a time when we are working towards reconciliation with our first peoples, it seems ridiculous to reduce protections against discrimination.”
Community groups involved:
- Africa Day Australia Inc (ADA)
- African Music and Cultural Festival Inc
- African Think Tank (ATT)
- African Australian Communities Leadership Forum (AACLF)
- African Australian Multicultural Employment and Youth Services (AAMEYS)
- African Australian Small Business Association (AASBA)
- Afro-Australian Student Organisation
- Asian Australia Democracy Caucus (AADC)
- Australian Federation of Islamic Councils (AFIC)
- Australian GLBTIQ Multicultural Council Inc
- Australian Intercultural Society
- Australian Macedonian Human Rights Committee
- Australasian Union of Jewish Students
- B’nai B’rith Anti-Defamation Commission
- B'nai B’rith Australia/New Zealand
- B’nai B’rith Victoria
- Board of Imams Victoria
- Brigidine Asylum Seekers Project
- Brigidine Sisters Kildara Centre
- Buddhist Council of Victoria
- Chinese Association of Victoria Inc
- Church of All Nations, Carlton
- AS.IT Italian Assistance Association (Victoria)
- Council of Christians and Jews Inc Victoria (CCJ)
- Council of Orthodox Synagogues of Victoria (COSV)
- Ethnic Communities Council of the South East (ECCOSE) Inc
- Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria (ECCV)
- Faith Communities Council of Victoria (FCCV)
- Hindu Council of Australia
- Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh
- Incubate Foundation
- The Interfaith Centre of Melbourne
- ISKCON
- Islamic Council of Victoria (ICV)
- Islamic Shia Council of Victoria
- Jewish Christian Muslim Association (JCMA)
- Jewish Community Council of Victoria (JCCV)
- Jewish Taskforce Against Family Violence Inc (JTAFV)
- Kerala Hindu Society Melbourne
- Keshet Australia
- KSIJ Melbourne
- Monash Interfaith Gathering
- National Council of Jewish Women of Australia (Victoria) Inc
- National Italian Australian foundation (NIAF)
- National Liaison Council of Chinese Australians Inc
- The Nigerian Society of Victoria Inc
- Online Hate Prevention Institute (OHPI)
- Pax Christi Australia
- Progressive Judaism Victoria (PJV)
- Rabbinical Council of Australia and New Zealand (RCANZ)
- Rabbinical Council of Victoria (RCV)
- Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) Victoria Regional Meeting Inc
- Seva International
- Sikh Interfaith Council of Victoria
- South Sudanese Community Association in Victoria Inc
- The UNESCO Chair in Interreligious and Intercultural Relations - Asia Pacific
- The Union of Greater Upper Nile States
- United Sri Lankan Muslim Association
- Uniting Church in Australia Synod of Vic/Tas
- Victorian Council of Churches (VCC)
- Wesley Mission Victoria
Reviewed 19 August 2020