13 December 2005
Community needs to tackle the us/them mentality front on
The Race Discrimination Commissioner, Tom Calma, today expressed his great concern at the events that have unfolded on Sydney's Southern beaches over the last few days.
"The nature and level of the violence and intimidation that was exhibited on the weekend and the subsequent retaliations demands immediate attention from government and the community," Mr Calma said.
"Mob violence and racial hatred do not spring up overnight and we need to closely examine the issues that lie behind these attacks. In the long term we need to break down the us/them mentality. That will require community and government leaders working concertedly towards this goal.
"There can never be any excuse for criminal behaviour, there are criminal laws to deal with the hooliganism and violence that erupted over the past few days and previously. It is hoped that the announcement of a new taskforce by the State government to deal with the criminal element that operated last week does its work effectively and expeditiously."
Mr Calma said: "As Race Discrimination Commissioner I am concerned at the ripple effect that the weekend events can have within the wider community. People should be aware that federal and state discrimination laws provide legal recourse to those who are the victims of racial hatred and incitement".
"Under the Racial Discrimination Act it is against the law to be racially offensive or abusive in public. It is against the law to offend insult or humiliate a person or group in public because of their race, colour or national or ethnic origin. This includes using speech images or writing in public that is racially offensive or abusive.
"However, laws alone cannot eradicate racism. As a community we need to tackle this issue front on and ensure that respect, not hatred, wins out."
Mr Calma is currently overseas and is not available for comment until his return on 23 December.
Media contact: Paul Oliver (02) 9284 9880 or 0408 469 347
Last updated 14 December 2005.
