Canberra Community Consultation Report
Racism and civil society: A community consultation held at the Canberra Museum and Gallery, Canberra ACT, on 31 July 2001
Speakers:
- Rosemary Follett,
Commissioner, ACT Human Rights Office
- Tim Goodwin, Policy Officer, Race Discrimination Unit, HREOC
Theme 2: Victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance
- No
voice
- Discrimination
against other communities
- Negation
of culture
- Development
of a victim mentality
- Intersectionality
- Education
- Strong leadership
- Use of media
- Legal change
- Government
- Programs to challenge racism
- Racism and the internet
- Acknowlegment and celebration
Theme
5: Strategies to achieve full and effective equality, including international
cooperation and enhancement of UN international mechanisms in combating
racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and
follow-up
Recommendations
Theme 1: Sources, causes, forms and contemporary manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.
All participants were of the opinion that racism in all its manifestations was entrenched and "alive and well" in Australia. It was noted that though racism exists in every society, this country was different in that racism is covert, underground and subtle. It is experienced in condescending or euphemistic language ("our" Indigenous people, "boat people", "illegals"), questioning of names ("you say you're Australian, but where are you really from?"), and barriers to employment and promotion.
This was seen as systemic or structural racism where society assumes that everyone is the same and it is expected that you will fit in with the norm, for example, by going for a drink after work. Participants observed that these norms are embedded in and reproduced by institutions such as government, education, employment and the law. Despite the rhetoric of multiculturalism, it is really assimilation that is the reality. What people had observed was that each new wave of migrants to Australia is treated badly until that community at last assimilates into the mainstream.
People in both workshops described Australia as a "schizophrenic society" where there are "Australians" and "others". Many of the participants felt they were "the other", not accepted as "true blue Aussies". The overwhelming experience was that Australian society did not yet value diversity. Many people felt that they were prevented from identifying as Australian because their names, appearance, accents or dress were not accepted. Speaking English became a signifier of sameness with the majority. A number of people had been shouted at "Speak English!" if they were speaking with their partner or friends in public. Some people had been told to "Go home to your country!" As a participant observed, "Some of us don't have a country to go to."
It is assumed that everyone wants to become an "Aussie". According to the participants the British-based culture assumes that it is the centre of all wisdom and the only culture of value. Debates about Australian culture are seen through white Australian eyes: Indigenous and non-English speaking cultures are seen as an aside. If difference is recognised it is characterised as inferior or viewed as a commodity. The projection of Australia's image overseas and at home of a harmonious multicultural society was a cynical ploy for marketing which did not translate into the reality experienced every day by Indigenous people and people from non-mainstream cultures. If a project, art or cultural form became successful it was "hijacked" and exploited by government bodies or others to be used for self-promotion or to turn it "mainstream". Participants suggested there was a laziness in Australian society which prevented people from going the extra step to meet others or to speak with people that are not familiar.
The participants had experienced racism in a number of areas of public life:
Religion
Some participants
claimed there was no freedom of religious worship in Australia despite
s116 of the Constitution. This lack of freedom is experienced in intolerance
and failure to recognise religions other than Christian, for example,
only Christian holy days are officially marked. One participant suggested
that only religions based on a text were accepted: if the teachings of
the religion were not written down it was assumed that they did not exist.
An Aboriginal woman said that Aboriginal spirituality and beliefs were
disregarded and dismissed. Some Jews, Muslims and Buddhists also had felt
fearful about external attacks on their places of worship in the ACT.
Employment
It was generally agreed that employment is the key to ensuring an economically secure life. However racism was prevalent, though usually covert, for example, in the requirement for Australian qualifications. Even in the public sector the grievance mechanisms could not protect people from systemic discrimination.
Media
The media was singled out by most participants for its negative stereotyping and portrayal of refugees and migrants. In popular programs such as Seachange and Neighbours there was only tokenistic attention paid to the diversity of our culture.
It was acknowledged that the media plays a crucial role in shaping how Australians see reality. Participants drew attention to how the media criminalises refugees and migrants through its use of words such as "illegal immigrants".
An Indonesian woman who had been resident here many years was upset by the recent media portrayal of Indonesians as the killers of East Timorese women and children. She said that the way that Indonesian people will be treated here will depend on Australia's future relationship with Indonesia, rather than their own personal qualities.
Provision of government services
People found racist attitudes particularly in the health and housing sector. Of concern was the "Teoh bill" which would prevent public servants taking international human rights standards into account when they make their administrative decisions.
Education
It was observed that racial discrimination and xenophobia were perpetuated through the education system. Mainstream culture is the only medium of teaching in the schools and there is a lack of cultural diversity among teaching staff. Participants emphasised the lack of cultural awareness programs in schools and the lack of constructive education about the "oneness" of the human race. The insensitivity of the education system was described by a participant who had grown up speaking perfect English. On arrival in Australia she had had the experience of having her children placed in remedial English classes merely on the basis of their appearance.
The workshops identified a number of causes of racism:
History of colonisation and immigration
People observed that this country has a history of racism which has become institutionalised. Our history denied autonomy to Aboriginal people and perpetrated genocide of the Indigenous nations. In the context of Australia's past role as a penal colony, it is natural for Australia to incarcerate refugees. The history taught in schools does not refer to the more than 350 Indigenous nations that exist in this country, nor to the Europeans' wars with those nations or the contributions made to Australia by the country's other minority groups.
Economic
Tied in with history was selfishness and greed, money goes with power and materialism leads to discrimination. Economic rationalism has led to insecurity amongst workers. This fuels racism through competition for jobs.
Lack of leadership
Many participants identified that the major factor which exacerbated racism was the failure of moral leadership. This manifested itself in a lack of commitment to the eradication of racism, and deliberate government policy to get votes by driving a "wedge" between communities. Government shows a lack of courage and knowledge by denying the existence of racism and not listening to the people. Some people condemned the Minister for refusing to meet Jewish and Muslim communities together to discuss attacks on places of religious worship.
White protection of privilege and power
We must always ask - in whose interest does racism work?
Superiority and arrogance were identified as causes of racism. They were derived from the desire to be economically secure by controlling resources. The idea of superiority was linked by some to ignorance and fear (of difference, change, the unknown, having to share resources). Others linked racism to the maintenance of privilege. Claims for recognition and a voice by Indigenous and migrant peoples are seen by those at the top of the institutional hierarchies as a threat to their power. "Race" is presented as a perceivable difference with the other as inferior. It is not recognised that it is constructed by those in power in order to maintain their position.
An interesting viewpoint was suggested by one participant: that by donating to overseas charities this absolved people of guilt about racism in Australia.
Lack of spirituality, moral values
A proposition put by an Aboriginal elder and agreed to everyone in one of the workshops was that Australia is bereft of spirituality. Human rights are devalued, as is human dignity. This leads to treating others with a lack of respect. The lack of moral fibre penetrated all institutions - the law, education, and sport. Current majority values and morality need to be analysed and questioned.
Lack of adequate laws to protect against racism
One group of participants noted that, even though Australia has signed the international genocide convention, it still practices genocide against Aboriginal people. There needs to be a domestic law against it.
The Constitution gives power to the Federal Parliament to make racially discriminatory laws and there is no constitutionally entrenched protection against racism. The Hindmarsh Island case was given as an example of failure to protect Aboriginal sacred sites.
Two laws were singled out as having devastating effects on Aboriginal people:
- The Native
Title Act where our obligations not to racially discriminate were
overruled. The Act perpetuates colonisation by limiting access to land
and maintaining the control of resources in the hands of the powerful.
- NSW legislation on children impacts on Aboriginal children who are still being taken from their families.
Some Indigenous participants also mentioned that the National Security Act (Cth) has the potential to be used against Aboriginal people in a "shoot to kill" situation.
Ignorance
A participant observed that we all tend to categorise and classify. As part of social identification people look for groups they feel comfortable with. But this is taught behaviour: we are taught to fear and avoid and discriminate against those that are different. People will carry stereotypes until they are challenged. Therefore education is important in breaking down ignorance and promoting diversity.
Apart from the original Australians, Australia is an immigrant nation. Therefore we should recognise that "boat people" are simply looking for a better way of life, just the way the English did 220 years ago. We need to acknowledge that we have waves of immigration and that new arrivals are perceived as threats until the focus shifts to the next wave. Therefore we need to learn from this experience, otherwise racism can become a malevolent force that can divide the nation.
Theme 2: Victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance
The victims of racism are Indigenous people, especially Aboriginal, and people from culturally and linguistically different backgrounds. It was acknowledged by many that Indigenous people bear the brunt of the worst racism. They are denied self-determination and cannot be who they want to be in their own land. Examples were given of police attacks on the Aboriginal Tent Embassy, bullying at work and school.
It was generally agreed that racism affects individuals, communities and Australian society in general in the following ways:
A distressing aspect of the racism experienced by many people was that people don't feel empowered to voice their concerns. Nor do they hear other Australians speak up against racism. Those who do attempt to speak out are silenced. The voices of diversity are by and large absent from Australian society.
Discrimination against other communities
Racism and competition for resources produces discrimination within and between multi-cultural peoples. Quotes from people included:
- "It's not
just Anglo/non-Anglo. We become violent towards one another ('horizontal
violence') because you cannot fight the oppressor."
- "The outside invader makes the internal groups fight each other and thus the oppressor keeps control of resources and power."
Racism neutralises our cultures. We become compliant to the majority culture and send messages to our offspring who will then deny their parents' heritage. Our personal, historical and cultural identities are being lost. One person gave testimony of how at school soap on a washcloth was rubbed in her mouth until she stopped speaking her own language.
Development of a victim mentality
We all suffer and look for racism - even when it's not there. People develop a victim mentality - it's hard not to when you cannot win. But we need to recognise our common experiences of alienation and hardship.
We never feel accepted
People who are "different", whether real or perceived, by reason of their race, accent, looks, behaviour, culture, religion, politics or heritage feel they are marginalised. Unless you are from particular dominant groups in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, USA or Canada you don't fit in.
The effect of discrimination on other grounds is that racism is compounded. "It is harder to pin down why you are not achieving. Is it my race, my gender, my disability? You cannot put your finger on it and feel you are going mad." For others, for example being a feminist or being an Orthodox Jew, highlighted the contradictions in our society and brought the focus painfully down to how we treat each other as human beings.
One of the effects for women is that they have to be "four times" better in employment and must continually prove themselves. Some successful female participants had experienced discrimination and jealousy from other women.
Participants also mentioned the doubling of disadvantage when you are both poor and suffering racism.
Theme 3: Measures of prevention, education and protection measures aimed at eradicating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance
Participants identified a number of positive measures which can be taken to deal with racism. These were necessary because adapting to current cultural norms/values/expectations only works for a short time. There have to be internal personal processes which go deeper than surface adjustments. There needs to be ongoing change in the areas of:
For the participants education meant not only at school and university, but public education about diversity. Participants suggested:
- A training levy
for teachers to get across the diversity curriculum and to engage in
cross-cultural learning - not ½ day tokenistic approaches, but
training that provides teachers with the resources to teach other cultures
from an informed viewpoint that does not simply reinforce stereotypes.
- Recruiting teachers
from overseas and having exchange programs to build the diversity of
the teaching pool.
- Specific, funded
education policy on domestic and international human rights.
- Teach the history
of Indigenous peoples.
- Have Black schools
open to all. Children will be able to practice their own Indigenous
religions there. The schools to be run by Black people, but white people
will be welcome to come.
- Have meaningful
programs about diversity and racism in the curriculum. These subjects
must be compulsory.
- The programs
should be across the board, for example, taught in mathematics etc.
- Moral education
must be taught eg not to kill others, not to discriminate. These are
to be not just token classes but part of the curriculum.
- Parents' groups
should be informed about a curriculum which teaches tolerance and other
cultures. This will help educate families.
- Public education
should include meaningful dialogue about cultural difference, not just
cultural days and food.
- Book discussion groups could be set up, for example to read books by Henry Reynolds about race relations and history and Mary Anderson's book "Do No Harm". These would give people the opportunity to "unlearn" prejudice.
It was emphatically agreed that we need a public stand against racism in order to create a safe environment in which the teaching of diversity and human rights values can take place. Therefore there must be clear messages from political and spiritual leaders condemning racism and valuing diversity. Leaders should match their rhetoric with action, for example, by enacting legislation with "teeth" and modelling moral behaviour.
The message from the participants was that the media shapes what people think, so why not use it to create positive profiles and send messages which promote realistic images. Community agencies could work with the producers of Neighbours, New Idea, etc, to promulgate diversity of individuals instead of stereotypes.
Programs are needed to introduce children to cultural diversity and reconciliation, for example, an Australian "Sesame Street", and the commissioning of children's story books. Other suggestions for shows included an Australian "The Awful Truth", and more international news.
Participants suggested there should be rules for television content on showing diversity similar to the rules governing the percentage of Australian content. Watchdog groups could be set up to address the silences and the gaps in the media. One participant suggested that HREOC could assume leadership in the area of media watch.
The media itself, especially radio, could be used for a public education campaign. If we don't do that, programs will continue to push the limits of racist language, because penalties are not seen as a serious curtailment.
It was agreed by people in both workshops that constitutional change was necessary to protect human rights. Some people preferred the model of a Bill of Rights.
Aboriginal participants referred to their own legal system (customary law) not being recognised with respect to land. It was suggested that Indigenous Federal Court judges with an understanding of land issues be appointed.
Many people endorsed the proposition that responsible government should be reinstated. It should be responsible to the people of Australia and show respect for the rule of law.
Though dealing with racism does take time, and though a participant had heard Barney Pityana in South Africa observe that the Australian government had made great strides in relation to racism in the last 10 years, other participants were more sceptical. One of the major criticisms was the Government's failure to listen to the grass roots in its policy-making. A number of suggestions were made. These included:
- Learn from the
Reconciliation movement. Change must be from the people.
- A Government
policy to encourage migrant groups to move around the country. The Government
needed to provide support systems so communities are not altogether
in the one place.
- Policies such
as DIMA's on questions asked of visa applicants eg about membership
of "fundamentalist" groups, should be assessed for their adverse
impact on persons of different religions
- Abolish mandatory
sentencing
- The government
should collect and disseminate "hard" data on racism
- Government should
publicly recognise the symbolism of the Aboriginal Tent Embassy
- Aboriginal people
should be given sovereignty
- Listen to the
grass roots by developing networks across cultural groups
- Treat all asylum
seekers as human beings
- Address the human
rights abuses taking place, for example, the number of Indigenous people
in gaols as a result of mandatory sentencing
- Police who have
history of racial discrimination should not be allowed to serve
- Use other words
eg unity, harmony, instead of "combating racism" - we find
it threatening.
- Value (not just
celebrate) diversity
- Learn from the
Snowy Mountains Hydro-electric Scheme about working together
- Tackle the structural/value
issues in a public way (using bridges not wedges)
- Stop South African
migrant supremacists arriving on British passports
- Stop abuse of our environment. The degradation is diluting our resources and putting more pressure on us.
- The Fire Healing
Ceremony open to all Australians, indigenous or not, which is taking
place at the Aboriginal Tent Embassy.
- A Melbourne school
paying community members to come in and work on projects around cultural
issues.
- Government, business
and professional programs where an individual takes on the role of mentoring
someone from a disadvantaged group.
- The drink driving
campaign is a good model to use.
- The model of
health managers who worked on soap opera story lines could be used in
the diversity context.
- Partnerships
with businesses and communities.
- Use the model
of women's sport campaigns.
- Performing arts
- especially young people communicating concepts and ideas.
- Individuals forming
links with people from different backgrounds, example given of Tamil/Singhalese
youths brought together and are now best friends.
- Government policies
which progress disadvantaged people.
- When people arrive
from conflict-ridden areas, Queanbeyan gets them to meet each other,
eg Serbs/Croatians.
- TV programs such
as the ABC's "Australian Story" on the Myall Creek massacre.
- In Ireland they
have got Protestant and Catholic youth together to understand what they
have in common.
- The Sea of Hands.
- In Canada the
government puts up signs in public which say that racial discrimination
and vilification are unacceptable and illegal.
- Reservations
on racist organisations in the Convention on the Elimination of Racial
Discrimination (CERD) should be removed.
- The Smith Family's education for life program - could be broadened to include racism.
It was noted that email list servers are a powerful method of disseminating information.
Acknowledgement and celebration
While we accept multiculturalism in the variety of our foods, we have not extended acceptance to the diversity of our culture. We need to build on the multicultural festival debates eg. "food for thought". To do so we need to match our reality with our rhetoric.
We have a need for greater public discussions on the invisibilities and absences from public life in relation to recognising diversity. Though we have rules for the percentage of Australian content on television, these programs often use only stereotypes. We need discussions with producers of television programs and other popular media, magazines and books.
Theme 4: Provision of effective remedies, recourse, redress, [compensatory] [1] and other measures at the national, regional and international levels.
It was said that laws only go so far. People first need to be aware of their rights and the mechanisms under the discrimination laws. Many people do not know that such laws exist or how they work, and it was suggested that many mainstream people do not think they are necessary.
A major drawback is that the 'victim' needs to complain. This shifts the burden onto an individual and away from our social responsibility to deal with racism. It means that racism is seen as an individual issue between two parties instead of a social problem.
A number of participants found that the model of the current discrimination law forces people to identify and complain as a member of a minority. The victims have to define themselves as outsiders and powerless victims. Therefore the current protections perpetuate "otherness". Further, you are marked as un-Australian if you complain. A better model would be human rights law which would shift the focus from "rights as a minority" to "rights as a human being".
Ultimately, it was claimed, the use of the laws is limited by the question of who sits on the bench in courts. The laws are clearly not adequate where the Chief Minister and Attorney General of the Northern Territory has to be found guilty of contempt of court in relation to his racism against the Aboriginal Legal Service. He holds himself above the law and is not subject to the rule of law.
The racial vilification laws were held to be inadequate. People were experiencing more vilification now than prior to their enactment.
Participants wanted tougher laws and public sanctions. The punishment should fit the crime. They suggested that human rights agencies be given the power to prosecute, similar to the ACCC and Occupational Health and Safety inspectors. This must include power to address systemic racism.
It was observed that powerful groups in society gain advantage by violating human rights standards: business needs to be made aware of its responsibilities under the Racial Discrimination Act.
We should ratify and enact into domestic law the international treaties and conventions.
The laws could be improved with more use of mediation and more use of discussion papers.
Other measures to ensure effective remedies
- Legal aid for
the poor for discrimination cases
- A tribunal, which
listens to Aboriginal people, run by Aboriginal people
- Laws against
genocide
- Land and economic
bases for Aboriginal people
- Recognition of
Aboriginal religions
- Examine aid programs
- they often "pit" people against each other and distinguish
deserving from non-deserving
- Bill of Rights to set the standard with all governments and all other laws to comply
Theme 5: Strategies to achieve full and effective equality, including international cooperation and enhancement of UN international mechanisms in combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and follow-up
The negative impacts of globalisation on people's experience of racism were identified as:
- Globalisation
is leading to one "American", English-speaking culture
- The gap between
rich and poor is getting larger
- Traditional knowledge
is taken from Indigenous people to make pharmaceuticals without consent
or compensation
- The economic and political rights of Indigenous people are being taken away by the globalised countries
On the positive side there is access to justice at an international level.
It was noted that Australia can contribute in a number of ways to international efforts to combat racism and racial discrimination:
- Stop making military
alignments with racist countries
- Engage in non-military
trade in the common interest between Australia and other countries
- Encourage positive
relationships with non-racist countries
- International
efforts by Australia to be along the lines of understanding international
human rights
- Australia is a
key player against self-determination for Indigenous peoples. It fears
fragmenting its territorial boundaries. It should stand up for indigenous
peoples in the UN, a body of colonising nations.
- Learn from Australia
being the first Western country to get an early action warning from
CERD
- Our leaders should abandon their double standards - they have one set at home, another at the UN.
Recommendations
1. Disseminate information about non-government organisations and community forums where people can talk informally.
2. Parliamentarians to have Codes of Conduct.
3. Prepare locally developed community action plans.
4. Race relations impact statements to assess the impact of government decisions, legislation and policies.
5. Oppose the Anti-Teoh Bill and require officials to carry out duties in accordance with human rights and international conventions.
6. By constitutional reform and treaty, effect legal reforms to undo the effect of past colonisation and to implement self-determination.
7. Encourage media and education through a multi-pronged approach.
8. Recognise religious holidays.
9. Give powers such as ACCC has to relevant bodies such as HREOC to enforce human rights.
10. A Bill or Charter of Rights.
11. Ratify and pass laws to ensure international rights and conventions are carried through all levels of government.
12. People in positions of power show leadership in modelling anti-racist and anti-xenophobic behaviour.
13. Recognition of freedom of religion under s116 Constitution.
14. Better education about the issues, and about the law.
15. More sophisticated legal response to racism - look at other jurisdictions.
16. Inclusion of customary laws, adopt legal pluralism.
17. Amend the laws of blasphemy to include religions other than Christianity and Judaism and make people accountable for breaking the law.
18. Improved and revised mechanisms so a complaint can be genuinely investigated in workplaces, institutions, etc, to prevent victimisation of complainants.
19. Federal and State governments to properly implement the recommendations from the Reports of Aboriginal Deaths in Custody and the Stolen Generation by legislation with effective sanctions and resources.
20. Revise immigration policies in relation to asylum seekers.
21. Commonwealth government should sit down with Aboriginal nations re sovereignty over land, and acknowledge that the Act of State doctrine has no legal basis under international law.
22. Suspension of police officers with race-related complaints against them with dismissal if proved.
23. Deeper community consultations with informed consent about legislation which implements international conventions.
24. Educate judges and police officers, parliamentarians, public servants and media personnel about racism in all its manifestations.
25. More opportunities and outcomes for diversity in the judiciary, police and parliaments.
26. Move towards parliamentary quotas for community representations [not universally endorsed].
27. Hold forums for the general public with artistic and cultural representations of racism.
28. Work towards a free press, more diverse control and ownership of the media, with accessibility to publication.
29. Focus on the youth - teach them tolerance of diversity and Indigenous peoples.
30. Promotion of personal change through spirituality.
31. Focus on human beings not stereotypes.
32. Acknowledgement of our racist history.
33. Share positive aspects of our histories.
34. Build a just, participatory society.
Note: The word compensatory was in brackets as there was no consensus among governments to include it under this theme.
