Andrews Government must fix laws to stamp out racist attacks
The rise in racially motivated incidents targeting people from Asian backgrounds during the COVID-19 pandemic reinforces the need for the Andrew’s Government to fix Victoria’s anti-hate laws, a Parliamentary committee will be told today.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, people from Asian backgrounds have reported almost 400 racist attacks to a reporting tool organised by the Asian Australian Alliance. This has included verbal and physical assaults, death threats, people being abused in front of their children, people being refused service in stores and property damage.
Incidents include people being spat on, two female international students being assaulted in Melbourne, a man with Asian heritage being deliberately coughed on and being told to ‘go home’, a Chinese woman suffering a concussion after a person threw a bottle at her head from a moving car and multiple examples of people being subjected to racial abuse.
A coalition of union, civil society and faith-based groups have made a supplementary submission to the Parliamentary committee inquiring into Victoria’s anti-vilification laws highlighting these recent incidents of hate conduct. The coalition is calling for a range of law reform measures, including stronger civil and criminal laws so that people are held accountable for conduct fuelled by hate.
The group is also calling for the Andrews Government to ban the public display of vilifying and offensive materials, like the Nazi Swastika, which is increasingly being displayed and used as a calling card for white supremacist groups across Victoria.
Molina Swarup Asthana, Victorian State Convener, the Asian Australian Alliance:
“Our racism incident report has shown an increase in the number of incidents of racial abuse and vilification directed towards Asians, ranging from physical assault to racial slurs and name calling. 90% of the respondents have not reported the incidents to the police or a statutory body as many of them believe that they will not get adequate redressal, or they lack confidence in the authorities. We support the strengthening of laws so that perpetrators are held accountable for their actions and victims of hate crime get justice.”
Monique Hurley, Senior Lawyer, Human Rights Law Centre:
“There is no excuse for racism. The rise in racially motivated incidents targeted at people from Asian backgrounds during the COVID-19 pandemic is shameful. Time is long overdue for the Andrews Government to take a stand against intolerance and introduce best practice anti-vilification laws so that everyone in Victoria can live a life free from hate.”
Luke Hilakari, Secretary, Victorian Trades Hall Council:
“With a rise in hate from the far right we need people to have more rights to stop discrimination and vilification. The union movement will continue to bring our collective strength to stand with those who are being targeted with everything from hate speech to violence. Government has a role here to continue to show its leadership by amending the anti-vilification laws, to make it easier for people to bring discrimination cases. Victoria needs tougher laws that stop hate in its tracks.”
Renaire Druery, Human Rights Director, GetUp:
“Everyone has a right to feel safe in their community - especially during a crisis. Instead, we’re seeing a shameful spike in incidents of racism towards Asian communities and increasingly brazen displays of hate from far-right groups. We need to see decisive action from politicians, and right now Victoria has the chance to do that.”
Abiola Ajetomobi, Director, Asylum Seeker Resources Centre (ASRC):
“Unless we have a change in Victoria’s current anti-hate laws, racial discrimination and violence will continue to permeate our society and threaten our collective efforts to ensure that Victoria is a vibrant, inclusive and diverse community.”
Dr Dvir Abramovich, Chairman, Anti-Defamation Commission:
“As racists manipulate the Coronavirus to promote their racist, conspiratorial agenda, we once again call on the government to lock arms with us and fight for an Australia without hate. Through unity, and by bringing in tougher anti-vilification laws, we can challenge bigotry at every stage, in every instance, and in every way that we can. As Dr King said, ‘The time is always right to do what is right’.”
Read a copy of the joint supplementary submission: Pre-Committee Version here.
Read a copy of the previous joint submission here.
Media contact:
Michelle Bennett, Communications Director: 0419 100 519
