Perth Youth Forum Against Racism Report
Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance: Issues for Young People in Western Australia
This report was written as a result of the following consultations with young people held by the Ethnic Communities Council WA Youth Committee.
- Young People and
Racism Forum at Multicultural House, North Perth, 11 July 2001
- 'Yoghurt - lots
of culture': Barriers and access to services for culturally and linguistically
diverse young people, Youth Affairs Council of WA Fireworx Conference
October 2000
- Youth Forum at the Federation of Ethnic Communities Councils of Australia Conference, Fremantle, November 2000
Historical and Social Factors
Racism stems from a fear of differences which is evident when people have had no or limited contact with diverse cultures. Negative stereotypes of ethnic, Indigenous and religious groups contribute to racist attitudes. There are many double standards in racist treatment: some Indigenous and ethnic people who are successful or popular are tolerated as "exceptions to the rule", and oppressed communities may also discriminate or be prejudiced against other minority groups.
Young people identify racism as being both hidden and overt, and in many cases socially sanctioned. Racism negatively impacts on and demeans the individuals who are oppressed, the perpetrators and society as a whole.
Racism and discrimination in Australian society are taboo subjects. They are not openly and adequately discussed in the community, media, legal, education and government sectors. Within the dominant euro-centric colonial society and structures the voices of young people affected by racism are often ignored, marginalised and undermined.
The history of colonialism and xenophobia in government policies and practices has constructed a racist foundation of Australian society. The detrimental impacts and injustice of terra nullius, invasion, theft and destruction of land, genocide, the forced removal of Aboriginal children from their families, racial segregation and the White Australia Policy have yet to be acknowledged by the majority of Australians and government. There has been a whitewashing of history, so that non-Indigenous Australians are absolved of responsibility. Instead, we celebrate events such as Federation, even though its formation excluded Indigenous and ethnic Australians from full citizenship rights. This racist legacy still contributes to ongoing family and social dysfunction, inequality and prejudice experienced by young people today.
Sufferers of racism experience loss, denial and devaluing of their family, cultural and religious history, traditions, customs, languages and laws. This results in Indigenous and culturally and linguistically diverse young people having a diminished and damaged sense of self-worth, which reduces their capacity to have their basic needs met and to achieve their full potential.
Indigenous and culturally and linguistically diverse young people face struggles in developing and expressing a positive identity. Many young people experienced being treated and viewed as different to the norm, marginalised, demonised, bullied and devalued. Young people seek acceptance, rather than tolerance, of their cultural values and beliefs.
Racism towards ethnic and Indigenous young people also manifests in social attitudes that define cultural heritage in terms of racial "percentages", "bloodlines", skin colour or geography. Examples of racist slurs that young people suffer include: "you don't look Asian because you are fair", "you're not a real Aboriginal because you live in the city", "go back home", and "diversity breeds mongrels like you". These comments are insensitive to the history of colonialism, assimilation and rape of Indigenous and ethnic people, and the multicultural make-up of Australia. Further, the perception that cultural and racial heritage can be judged by visible, physical or behavioural characteristics in contrast to Anglo-Australians is imperialistic, xenophobic and oppressive. Young people have the right to claim their cultural heritage on the basis of ancestry, identity and acceptance from their communities.
Culturally and linguistically diverse people with disabilities are particularly vulnerable to racist remarks and actions because of their disability and inability/unwillingness to respond for fear of reprisals. These people are often stigmatised and isolated because of attitudes and misconceptions prevalent in their own communities and in the broader community. In respect of the broader community, disadvantage is compounded by discriminatory attitudes and practices towards disability and ethnicity.
Indigenous and culturally and linguistically diverse young people may suffer trauma and abuse due to family conflict, violence in their country of origin, and/or racism in Australia which is not understood by their peers and is not addressed by the broader community.
Recommendations
1. An official apology to Indigenous Australians from the Federal government is essential, to own responsibility for past injustices as a nation and progress the reconciliation process. Further, we demand that the Federal government implement all of the recommendations from the Bringing Them Home Report.
2. Young people have an active interest and stake in reconciliation. To facilitate the nation's healing and enable us to learn from past mistakes, the history of Indigenous people and colonial invasion must be accurately taught to young people at all levels of the education system.
3. We recommend that the government provide funding and support for the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission to run community consultations and develop a Bill of Rights and a Treaty between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. These documents must recognise and affirm Aboriginal people's rights as the traditional owners of this land, and ensure equity and justice for all. Further, these Bills should effectively engage and include the perspectives of young people from Indigenous and culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
4. Cross-cultural exchange and forums which provide opportunities to speak freely about issues are valuable in fostering better understanding and respect of diversity, breaking down stereotypes and instilling pride in young people of multicultural backgrounds. Non-government organisations, schools and government should increase funding, resources and support to leadership, mentoring and skill development programs for Indigenous and culturally and linguistically diverse young people, particularly programs initiated and implemented by young people themselves.
5. Greater representation of Indigenous and culturally and linguistically diverse young people at all levels of government and community decision-making, committees, advisory bodies and policy formation, is necessary to ensure their issues are included and addressed. Further, appropriate and sufficient resources, training and mentoring must be provided to youth representatives to assist in their effective participation and empowerment.
6. Longitudinal research into racism and young people is crucial to inform debate, develop social policy and plan effective services for youth. This should include forms, sources, causes and impacts of racism on Indigenous and culturally and linguistically diverse young people, and anti-racism strategies developed by young people.
7. Given the intersections of identity and oppression, more dialogue and partnerships between Indigenous, ethnic, refugee, youth, gay and lesbian, women and disability groups should be established.
Family Issues
Family circumstances,
structures, wellbeing and relationships are important factors in childhood,
adolescent and early adulthood development. A stable and caring family
environment, which is supportive of children, affirms their worth and
recognises their abilities, is integral to young people developing positive
self-esteem and good personal and interpersonal skills. For culturally
and linguistically diverse and Indigenous young people, a positive family
life enables them to maintain their cultural pride and self-respect in
the face of external racism, and to establish effective coping mechanisms
to deal with adversity.
Culturally and linguistically diverse and Indigenous young people suffer
the consequences of racism experienced by other family members. Forms
of racism these families experience include higher levels of unemployment,
difficulty accessing appropriate long-term housing, discrimination and
abuse. In addition to this, other difficulties such as language and cultural
barriers, low or lack of income support and visa complications, can result
in a lower standard of living and increased day-to-day stress and pressures
on families.
Young Indigenous Australians are greatly affected by their family's histories and experiences of genocide and assimilation under colonial government policies. In consultations, young Aboriginal people spoke of grandparents being part of the Stolen Generation: forcibly removed from their parents as children, placed in missions and forced into slave labour. Their grandparents were denied citizenship rights and unable to travel freely, marry, study at school or visit their removed children without permission from the State. There were also testimonies of extreme violence such as pregnant Aboriginal women being whipped by white people, and the theft and exploitation of sacred sites and land. These histories continue to cause pain and suffering to young people and their communities, especially in the context of ongoing systemic racism and violence towards Indigenous Australians.
Recently arrived migrants and refugees to Australia may experience difficulties adapting to a new environment due to loss of or separation from family members and extended supports, cultural displacement, isolation and alienation. Young refugees may suffer trauma as victims or witnesses of war crimes including abuse, rape, murder and humiliation of family members. Refugees also experience additional fears and disadvantages due to experiencing hostility, restricted movement and basic conditions in detention centres, and uncertainty of their visa status and legal rights.
Young people from Indigenous and culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds struggle to negotiate between assimilating to the dominant western society and/or maintaining their cultural, ethnic and religious heritage. This process can marginalise young people and alienate them from their own culture. For example, social pressures to speak English fluently without an accent, and thus avoid racism, may result in children losing their mother tongue and cause difficulties in communicating with family members who have limited English.
Many young people in Australia live in culturally diverse families, due to inter-racial marriages, parents re-marrying partners from different cultural backgrounds, or foster care. This multicultural family life can be enriching to individuals and communities, but it can also be complex. For example, a parent may even perpetuate racism by teaching their children that some cultures, history, traditions, languages and religions are less valuable or inferior to others.
Intergenerational conflict is a major problem experienced by young people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Tensions can arise between parents' traditional values and practices of their homeland, and the new values and different family roles in Australia. Young migrants may need to take on additional responsibilities such as translating, interpreting and financially supporting their families. Conflict can stem from language barriers, different communication styles and parental expectations of children to perform well in school, marry within the culture and religion, conform to traditional sex and gender roles, and prioritise the family well-being above individual interests.
Recommendations
8. Increased funding and resources to research family issues for Indigenous and culturally and linguistically diverse young people in consultation with relevant communities and youth.
9. Community and schools engage parents and children in cross-cultural discussions and programs which promote respect and understanding of cultural diversity and the history and contributions of Indigenous people and migrants.
10. Increased funding and resources for family development programs to build individual, family and communities' capacity for self-determination and sustainability. Programs should improve access and participation in relevant services and networks, and enhance skills in community leadership, resettlement, parenting, dealing with stress and anger, effective communication, negotiating new family, gender and sexuality roles, cross-cultural relationships and conflict resolution.
11. Increased support and resources for culturally appropriate childcare, day-care and early parenting services for Indigenous and culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
12. Funding and development of culturally appropriate services such as refuges, short and long-term accommodation, counselling, legal aid and advocacy for Indigenous and culturally and linguistically diverse young people who have experienced abuse, torture and trauma or family violence.
13. Increased support and resources for Indigenous and culturally and linguistically diverse people with disabilities including culturally appropriate education, training, counselling, advocacy, interpreters, accommodation and respite care.
14. Increased support services for Indigenous and culturally and linguistically diverse young people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer including youth outreach workers, drop in centres, peer support, counselling, therapeutic groups, education and information.
Health and welfare
Whilst many Australians benefit from good health and living conditions, Aboriginal people still suffer from the impacts of colonisation and racism. Higher levels of poverty, isolation, poor nutrition, inappropriate services and homelessness negatively affect the long-term well-being and capacity of Indigenous young people. For example, damp housing can cause sticky ear infection, preventing Aboriginal children from hearing and learning properly at school, impairing development of effective communication and social skills and thus reducing future employment prospects.
Statistics on women and children's health reflect severe disadvantages experienced by Aboriginal people: Aboriginal babies are more likely to die at birth than non-Aboriginal babies; most Aboriginal babies are not as heavy at birth as non-Aboriginal babies; most Aboriginal women live 17 years less than non-Aboriginal women; Aboriginal women have a death rate from heart disease 3 times higher than non-Aboriginal women; and Aboriginal women are 3 times more likely to spend time in hospital. (The Health and Welfare of Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples 1997; The Health of Women in Western Australia 1997)
Young migrants and refugees may experience stresses and mental health problems associated with difficulties in resettlement and acculturation, racism and discrimination, family separation and conflict. Loss of culture, family, friends and a familiar lifestyle can lead to instability, mistrust, isolation, grief, fear of abandonment, anger, poor self esteem, withdrawal, a lower attention span and decreased participation in school. (Bashir and Bennet 2000)
Refugees who have fled from war, witnessed or suffered torture, rape, murder and abuse, are separated from family members and/or lived in refugee camps are susceptible to mental health problems including anxiety disorders, depression, post-traumatic stress, somatic problems, nightmares, concentration and learning difficulties. (Bevan 2000, Wong 2000)
Culturally and linguistically diverse and Indigenous young people who have experienced racial discrimination, abuse, incarceration, poverty and family separation or conflict may engage in self-destructive or risk-taking behaviour, such as self-harm, drug-taking, theft, speeding and vandalism. However, the contributing social factors and context of their dysfunction is largely not acknowledged or addressed. Instead, young people are blamed and criminalised for their problems which are misrepresented as character flaws indicative of their race and culture, and used to perpetuate further discrimination.
We note with grave concern, the current problem of petrol sniffing amongst Indigenous youth, particularly in rural areas, and the lack of government funding to Indigenous services to combat issues of isolation, substance use and self-harm.
Youth suicide in Australia is amongst the highest in the industrialised world. Aboriginal and culturally and linguistically diverse young people may experience mental health problems contributing to suicidal behaviour because they suffer racism, social disadvantage, isolation, identity issues, historical discrimination, torture and trauma, violence, sexual abuse and family separation or conflict. (Commonwealth Department of Human Services and Health 1997; Fry 2000)
Young people from culturally and linguistically diverse and Indigenous backgrounds face high unemployment due to language and cultural barriers, discrimination and geographic isolation. Recent reforms to Centrelink unemployment benefits penalise people who do not meet department criteria of completing job search diaries, attending interviews or submitting forms. This can result in young people being without income support for short to long periods of time. Migrants and refugees on Temporary Protection Visas face a two-year waiting period for social security. These refugees cannot access welfare services and English classes. Additional welfare reforms that disadvantage young people include changing the age of independence to 25, which means young people must subsist on lower income levels for longer periods, and making people with disabilities work for welfare payments.
Culturally and linguistically diverse and Indigenous people experience racism from private landlords who refuse to rent accommodation to them. There is a lack of adequate and culturally appropriate housing provided by the government. Large families may not be able to stay together because of restrictions on space or tenant numbers. Refugees to Western Australia who were placed in housing in lower socio-economic, isolated suburbs suffered racist attacks and threats to their safety.
Recommendations
15. Culturally appropriate and youth-friendly health, accommodation, legal, education and welfare services. Services should adopt a social justice framework which recognises and addresses contributing factors to health and welfare such as ethnicity, socio-economic status, language, religion, age, gender, sexuality, disability and geographic location.
16. More collaboration between services and a community development approach should be fostered to ensure prevention, early intervention and adequate programs to address communities' long-term needs.
17. Development and delivery of culturally appropriate suicide prevention and drug and alcohol programs, in consultation with Indigenous and culturally and linguistically diverse youth and communities.
18. Increased funding and support for the continuation and expansion of the National Aboriginal Women's Council program to rehabilitate young people sniffing petrol. The program has been developed in consultation with local communities and elders and runs activities such as regular basketball games for young Indigenous people, providing them with recreation, support, friendships and improved self-esteem.
19. There is a need for more social support for new migrants and refugees. Experienced professional ethnic and bilingual staff such as social workers, psychologists, interpreters and counsellors should also have specialised knowledge of the culture they work with, some history of the country and consultative skills. Cross-cultural training should be compulsory and ongoing to ensure staff are 'culturally competent' and have the ability to interact with, and be accepted by, clients from culturally diverse groups. They should also have specialised training in order to have the ability to diagnose and access problems correctly. The change of interaction between client and service provider will build on trust from the client.
20. Increased funding and resources for research into mental health issues for at-risk young people from Indigenous and culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
21. Inclusion of trans-cultural mental health education in mental health training.
22. Greater funding and support for culturally appropriate youth centres and programs.
23. More inclusion, support and recognition of the qualifications of bicultural workers.
24. Increased promotion of relevant services and advocacy for ethnic and Indigenous communities. Increased availability of interpreters and translated materials, including materials for new and emerging communities.
25. Cross-cultural training and resources for government and non-government staff at all levels. Implementation of anti-discrimination strategies in services, which are regularly monitored and evaluated.
Education
The structure of the schooling system needs to be changed to meet the needs and interests of students. One of the main issues addressed during the workshops is that there are no Indigenous language classes in school. Students are interested to learn about Aboriginal culture but there were no resources available to teach them.
The consultation notes with concern the lack of multicultural and religious education. We recognise that outcomes of this ignorance include bullying and harassment of students of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and sexual orientation. New groups are formed in school where there is a segregation of students and friendship. Education plays an important role in making youths understand another culture, and the effects of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.
Racism, homophobia and sexism are evident in schools. Indigenous and culturally and linguistically diverse children and young people were regularly exposed to bullying, name-calling, harassment and violence from other students.
Young Indigenous, culturally and linguistically diverse and refugee young people may experience difficulties at school because of socio-economic disadvantage, discrimination from peers, teachers and the community, having to prioritise external work that assists family finances, different social and cultural expectations, additional pressure to succeed, and discontinuation of study because of migrating or moving. If teachers are unable or unwilling to address these issues, students may become disinterested, disruptive or fall behind.
Recommendations
26. The West Australian State Government must implement its anti-racism policy in the education system and develop a mechanism for the effective monitoring and evaluation of the policy.
27. Recognising the importance of Aboriginal people and history, the rightful owners of this land, Aboriginal history courses, developed and delivered by Aboriginal Studies Departments, should be compulsory units undertaken by all school and tertiary students.
28. The structure of educational institutions must be culturally appropriate, and school curriculum should reflect different ways of teaching and learning. For example, Aboriginal teachers relating personal experiences and oral history to students is an important component of developing young people's respect for Indigenous people and for combating stereotyping, ignorance and prejudice.
29. We recognise that a compulsory multicultural curriculum which includes bicultural and bilingual language would be beneficial in learning more about people of various linguistic and ethnic backgrounds. This would therefore break down barriers and stereotypes between students of Anglo and ethnic origin. This is essential if we are to create a more harmonious multicultural future. The classes can be taught using cultural tools such as music, dance, art, performance and open discussions of issues and diversity between students.
30. Ongoing cross-cultural training of administrative staff, teachers and lecturers. Affirmative action policies in employing a diversity of staff, including recruitment of people from Indigenous and culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. There should also be continual exchange programs for teachers and lecturers to create a culturally knowledgeable and international teaching system.
31. To address the specific needs of disadvantaged groups, we recommend that the Department for Education and Training increase funding for interpreters, teacher aids and translated materials in schools and universities for Aboriginal people, new migrants, refugees, people from non-English speaking backgrounds and people with disabilities.
32. Ongoing training of teachers to deal with cultural issues and discrimination, and to identify young people at risk to ensure prevention and early intervention of self-harm, abuse and mental health problems. Appropriate support and counsellors should be accessible for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer students.
33. Teachers acting as mediators between students, enabling students who suffered racism to discuss the impacts and hurt with the perpetrator, receive an apology and understanding, was identified as an effective strategy to deal with racism at school by Aboriginal young people. Effective mediation also restored the self-worth of Aboriginal students, prevented further anger and violence, and reinforced the commitment of teachers to create a racist-free environment.
34. Alternative education and programs working with at-risk young people are needed to address lower participation rates of culturally diverse and disadvantaged students. Peer support and mentoring programs for young people from Indigenous and culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds must be developed in consultation with youth and their communities, and implemented and adequately funded in schools. These programs also need to work collaboratively with relevant services to ensure all the needs of young people are adequately met, such as accommodation, income support, legal aid and advocacy, health care, torture and trauma counselling, and family mediation.
Service Providers
Culturally and linguistically diverse and Indigenous young people face many barriers in accessing youth, health, education, accommodation, legal and welfare services. Barriers for young people include language, cultural inappropriateness, lack of bicultural staff, fear of authority, lack of awareness of their rights, concerns about confidentiality, discrimination from front-line staff, inability to produce official documentation, geographic distance/isolation, cost and lack of knowledge of services.
Services may be unresponsive to the needs of Indigenous and culturally and linguistically diverse young people due to institutional ignorance, fear and prejudice, or being profit-driven.
Indigenous, migrant, refugee and youth services face difficulties in the current economic rationalist climate as agencies must compete for government funding, resources are limited, funding submissions and reporting is time consuming and there is limited support from mainstream agencies.
There are ominous signs for multicultural and ethno-specific services in the current push to mainstream and privatise migrant settlement services provided or funded by the government. The policy of mainstreaming is not very different from assimilation as it seeks to deny people's rights to maintain their cultural and linguistic heritage and to access culturally appropriate services. (Sankaran 2000)
Recommendations
35. Services should adopt a community development approach which builds relationships with communities, identifies needs through consultation, and empowers Indigenous and ethnic young people to participate in decision making, initiate and sustain their own programs and support groups.
36. Increased research on community needs including regular surveys to provide up-to-date information for service providers and evaluation of service provision.
37. Service providers should encourage and help clients to maintain their cultural identity and help restore self-respect and confidence. They should also be of assistance to migrants and refugees in the 'transmission' process of living in a new society where they are no longer part of the dominant culture.
38. Cross-cultural training on working with culturally and linguistically diverse and Indigenous young people for service providers. There should also be supervision of the staff working with new migrants and refugees so that the relationship is collaborative and respectful rather than a hierarchy of expertise. Staff should be encouraged to have regular reflection on themselves and the job at hand in order to keep up their momentum. Their abilities to deliver culturally appropriate services should be monitored and evaluated. Management should provide leadership to ensure services are responsive to Indigenous and culturally and linguistically diverse youth issues.
39. Indigenous and ethnic agencies are capable of meeting community needs more effectively than generic or mainstream organisations, and the government should provide resources and support for community organisations working with culturally and linguistically diverse and Indigenous young people. Increased funding for interpreters and translated materials, outreach and rural programs, and promotion of services, more opportunities and support for Train the Trainer programs.
40. Health services should be more accessible by providing outreach clinical programs. This could be made up of 3-5 culturally diverse professional staff: one doctor, one social worker or psychologist and one assistant. Each or one of the staff should be 'culturally competent' and bilingual. More services should bring the resources out into the community and consequently link resources and appropriate agencies to help new migrants and refugees utilise the full potential of available services.
Immigration
Australia is 'home' to many migrants who moved here seeking to establish a better quality of life, and to refugees who were forced to leave their home because of conflict and oppression. Some young people were involved in family decision making, some made their own choice, others had no choice. However, migrants and refugees living in Australia have experienced overt and covert racism. This includes racist comments and attacks which cause hurt and made them feel unwelcome and vulnerable in social situations, at home, in school, universities and the workplace. Migrants often felt the need to 'stick-together' with people of the same ethnic origin for fear of their safety. This is particularly evident for people from less established communities which are more vulnerable to racism.
The comments by the Federal government that asylum seekers enter Australia illegally as "queue jumpers" are misleading and inflammatory, and have perpetuated racist attitudes in the community and abuse of refugees. A substantial proportion of the recent boat arrivals have been granted Temporary Protection Visas. This proves that they have met the rigorous assessment involved in establishing that they were persecuted or had a genuine fear of being persecuted in their home countries. Asylum seekers have a legal right under the international conventions that Australia is a party to, to seek sanctuary in a third country without satisfying its "legal entry requirements". The government's attempt to amend the Border Protection Bill to prevent such people from making a refugee application on-shore in Australia, if they pass through a country where they are able to make effective refugee claims is discriminatory and inhumane. (Sankaran 2001)
Unauthorised entry via boats has been significantly lower than those who entered Australia via air and illegally overstayed their visas, since at least 1995. The Commonwealth's treatment of asylum seekers, largely non-European and non-Christian, who have landed on our shores by boats has been unduly harsh and repressive. Australia is the only western democracy that has a mandatory policy of detention of refugees. However, the government has been more accommodating towards people from primarily British and American origin who overstay their visas. This clearly reflects a double standard and racism in government policy. (Sankaran 2001)
Despite the economic and social contributions that migrants make to Australia, the family reunion intake is insufficient and denies migrant and refugees the support and security of being with family members. The government's proposed policy of letting aged parents into Australia only on payment of a fee of $25,000 is unfair, inequitable and socially unacceptable.
Immigration processing resources are disproportionately allocated to the UK and the USA. The lack of adequate resources in Africa has had a devastating impact on family reunion, especially for those who initially entered on humanitarian grounds.
The exemption of the migration legislation under the Disability Discrimination Act is a form of systemic discrimination against people with disabilities. The harsh health requirements prevent the reunion of families whose member happens to have a disability. The medical criteria should take into account the technological and other advances that offset the impact of many disabilities as well as current community attitudes towards people with disabilities. Further, the restrictions of the family reunion program may mean that people with disabilities already living in Australia are denied the care and emotional support of family members who speak the same language, and share the same culture and religion.
The education and professional qualifications of many migrants from non-English speaking backgrounds are not recognised by the Australian Government and professional bodies. In addition, workplace discrimination and xenophobia towards people of colour, people from non-English speaking backgrounds and religious minorities inhibit migrants from securing employment that is suitable to their skills and expertise and on par with positions previously held in their country of origin. There is thus a high concentration of non-English speaking migrants, people of colour and religious minorities in low paid manual jobs and an under-representation of non-English speaking migrants at management level.
Recommendations
41. The government should substantially increase Australia's immigration intake under the family and humanitarian/refugee streams to ensure there is equity in different streams.
42. Australia should not have an immigration intake policy which discriminates on the basis of health and disability.
43. Repeal the restrictive social welfare policies that have denied migrants assistance during their most vulnerable period in Australia.
44. That mandatory detention of refugees be repealed and replaced by a model of integrating and supporting refugees in the community such as in Sweden.
45. We demand that the Australian Government take into account the experience and education of migrants and refugees and allow them to work in a similar position realising the full potential and positive impact they have and will make to the Australian economy. Further, that bridging programs which enable migrants to develop additional skills to meet Australian criteria be adequately funded and resourced.
46. There should be a cross cultural training institute for new migrants and refugees where they will be educated in the new schooling systems, law and the criminal justice systems, service agencies, some history and the variety of ethnic communities and social activities. This cross-cultural training institute should be opened to service providers, youths and the wider community in order for us to learn and understand migrants and refugees and the difficulties they face.
Police and Legal Issues
Young Indigenous and culturally and linguistically diverse people may be unaware of their legal rights and laws such as the Racial Discrimination Act. The Equal Opportunity Commission was identified as a body which could support people and represent them in legal cases and complaints about racism. However, racial vilification and equal opportunity laws are limited as the onus is on the victim to make a complaint or press charges, and this could be intimidating to young people. The lack of funding of Legal Aid and advocacy organisations which represent young people created further barriers to young people seeking justice after experiencing racism.
The lack of appointment of a Racial Discrimination Commissioner was of great concern to young people. This indicates a lack of commitment by the Federal Government to combating racism and ensuring equity, safety, justice and equal opportunity for culturally and linguistically diverse and Indigenous people. Such ambivalence at a government level adds fuel to racist ideology and division in the community.
There is an over-representation of culturally and linguistically diverse and Indigenous young people in the juvenile justice system. Young people who had been incarcerated often experienced shame, stigma, isolation and alienation in their communities, and may therefore reject traditional values and support networks. Many young Aboriginal people also had relatives in prisons, and committed crimes in order to visit them. These issues of cultural displacement and family separation contribute to a vicious cycle of crime and imprisonment of young culturally and linguistically diverse and Aboriginal people.
Mandatory sentencing laws in Western Australia and the Northern Territory disproportionately affect young Indigenous people. The legislation limits the discretion of the judge who is unable to consider the individual circumstances of each case or whether the offence was minor or severe. Many young people in Western Australia are not sufficiently informed about mandatory sentencing and find that after committing three property offences, they are imprisoned for twelve months. Young people from non-English speaking backgrounds have insufficient access to interpreters, and may not have any understanding of the charges or punishment they are sentenced to. Mandatory sentencing does not address the systemic issues that cause crime, and is therefore not an effective deterrent. The lack of inclusion of rehabilitation measures is abhorrent, particularly considering the historical imprisonment of Aboriginal people under colonial governments and the high incidents of black deaths in custody. If this form of racism in the legal system continues, young Indigenous people may become an 'imprisoned generation', growing up without access to their language, culture, family and community under a contemporary framework of genocide.
Insufficient cross-cultural training on culturally and linguistically diverse and Indigenous youth issues contributes to police having stereotypical assumptions of antisocial behaviour and criminality of different cultures. In addition, the lack of monitoring of discriminatory treatment in the police service allows police to target young culturally and linguistically diverse and Indigenous people more than other groups. For example, police have approached young Indigenous people and accused them of stealing the clothes they were wearing, without any evidence. This demeans the dignity of young people and creates fear and resentment of police.
'Move on' laws whereby police can disperse groups of three or more people for loitering in public spaces, discriminates against Aboriginal and culturally and linguistically diverse young people who are more visible in the city area. 'Move on' laws and the surplus of police and security guards patrols reflect local councils' agenda of control over welfare. The protection of traders and business is to the detriment of young people from lower socio-economic backgrounds who are denied the right to socialise in and utilise public space. Young people from Asian, African and Indigenous backgrounds felt they were targeted unfairly, treated with suspicion and harassed by police, and criminalised as 'gangs' under these laws. Wrongful charges had also been made, and frequent altercations resulted in hostility and resentment of policy and security guards.
The Perth City Council's recent introduction of laws against breakdancing in the city further criminalises the cultural expression and activities of young people. Security guards have also been directed to accost young people on trains and discourage them from travelling into the city. In addition, the use of piped classical music at train stations further aims to deter young people from meeting in the area, and reflects systemic discrimination and alienation of young people in public spaces.
Young Asian men had been harassed and bashed by security guards in nightclubs. They had difficulty pressing charges as they were expected to prove their innocence, and that they had not tried any 'martial arts' on the nightclub bouncers.
Young Aboriginal people had experienced police violence, particularly in regional areas. Examples of harsh treatment was a young Aboriginal woman being pepper sprayed by the police, while drinking from a water fountain, and Aboriginal women experiencing sexual harassment by police in public venues. Complaints of racial harassment by police were not dealt with appropriately by police stations, which added to the disempowerment and discrimination young Aboriginal people faced.
Recommendations
47. Programs in schools and communities should be established to inform young people of their rights. There should be assistance for people to make charges against racism and racially motivated crime or discrimination. The availability and funding of legal aid and advocacy services should be expanded so it is not just the very rich and the very poor who can access legal assistance.
48. Equal Opportunity Commissioners should have the power to act on discrimination cases without the victim lodging a complaint.
49. Equal opportunity recruitment in the police service, particularly including people from Indigenous and Asian communities who experience the most discrimination. The powers and numbers of Aboriginal liaison officers and gay and lesbian liaison officers should be increased, and ethnic community liaison officers should be established. Cross-cultural training of police should be compulsory, and police should be encouraged to utilise laws against racial vilification. Measures to monitor and address racial discriminatory behaviour should also be implemented.
50. More effective liaison between police and culturally and linguistically diverse young people to promote and implement early intervention strategies and positive community activities. The provision of interpreters for all young people from non-English speaking backgrounds when charges are being made and in the prison system.
51. Mandatory sentencing laws should be repealed and replaced with early intervention and rehabilitation programs which are developed and implemented in consultation with Indigenous communities. The recommendations of the Report of the Inquiry into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody should be implemented and greater funding and support should be given to the Aboriginal Deaths in Custody Watch Committee.
52. Increased funding and resources for culturally appropriate youth drop-in centres that provide food packages, free showers and toilets, support, workshops, discussions, and information for disadvantaged young people. Improved access to public space and recreation programs for culturally and linguistically diverse young people to develop leadership and team skills, build social networks and increase community participation.
53. Community development programs and partnerships between youth, culturally and linguistically diverse, Indigenous, drug and alcohol, gay and lesbian, disability and outreach services, local councils and businesses to foster better relationships, humanist values, and equitable community representation in decision-making and the distribution of resources. Research to analyse the city demography and assess young people's use of space is also needed.
Media
Some concerns from young people in relation to the media are that mainstream newspapers, current affairs and news reports perpetuate stereotypes which incite racism and racist behaviour. For example, Pauline Hanson's racist views that "Aboriginal people receive too many hand-outs" and "Australia has too many Asians" are given wide media coverage. Pauline Hanson has also been made into a controversial media celebrity which provides free advertising for One Nation's racist policies and motivates racist groups and individuals to further discriminate against Aboriginal and ethnic people.
The media plays an important role in perpetuating colonial ideology and racist stereotypes of Indigenous Australians. The negative portrayal of Indigenous Australians affects individual and groups by creating feelings of anger, grief, loss, shame and mistrust.
Current affairs programs are often biased and exclude the voices of minority groups. Current affairs programs and news reports sensationalise and misrepresent refugee issues by using subjective images of asylum seekers and the language of 'invasion' to incite fear and resentment amongst the community. The news negatively portrays immigrants, refugees and young people instead of educating audiences about human rights issues and discrimination.
Key decision-making positions in the media, such as editors, producers, presenters and journalists, continue to be dominated by white men and women. This is unrepresentative of multicultural Australian society. Issues for culturally and linguistically diverse and Indigenous people continue be ignored and marginalised, for example, mainstream television stations place programs on Aboriginal issues in late night slots which are less accessible to audiences.
Recommendations
54. Mechanisms should be established to monitor the media and make accountable the persons/organisations involved in representing views which incite racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.
55. The media should provide greater opportunities for self-representation of culturally and linguistically diverse and Aboriginal people, and inclusion of issues of racism and cultural diversity. There should be increased representation of Aboriginal and culturally and linguistically diverse staff in key decision-making positions. Cross-cultural training of staff at all levels should be ongoing to ensure cultural sensitivity and better understanding of issues of racism and discrimination.
56. Culturally and linguistically diverse people and Indigenous Australians must be encouraged to speak out collectively for their rights and issues of concern. Funding and greater opportunities to promote self-representation and positive images of culturally and linguistically diverse young people in the media and to the general public. More support, resources and funding should be provided to independent press such as youth, ethnic and Indigenous newspapers to facilitate their participation in community debate and increase community awareness.
Popular Culture
Mainstream culture presents Australian identity as euro-centric, masculinist, heterosexist and ableist. There is a lack of representation of people who are culturally and linguistically diverse, Aboriginal, have a disability, or are gay or lesbian in popular culture such as soap operas and dramas on prime time television. Many of the images of minority groups in popular culture are tokenistic and stereotypical, and often the source of ridicule and humour. Women from ethnic backgrounds are also highly exoticised, sexualised and objectified for a white male gaze. This exclusion and misrepresentation of diverse cultures perpetuates the dominant groups and marginalises ethnic and multicultural communities.
Misrepresentation of historical events and people is also common. An example of this is the recent Hollywood movie 'Anna and the King'. It is insulting and disrespectful to the Thai people as it does not correctly identify the events of the past.
Intellectual property is not adequately protected, and traditional cultural symbols, texts and images are appropriated for profit. An example is McDonalds using sacred Aboriginal designs on paper placemats.
Recommendations
57. Greater positive representation in popular culture of people who are culturally and linguistically diverse, Aboriginal, have a disability or are gay and lesbian. An effective example of this is the use of the Aboriginal actor Ningali Lawford in television, billboard and newspaper advertisements for the Western Australian Water Corporation.
58. Young people must take a stance against racism to make a difference. For example, young people refusing to laugh at racist jokes made by their peers, sends a clear message to others that racism is unacceptable. Young people should be provided with information, skills and support to actively combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.
59. More funding to tour cultural activities, exhibitions and film festivals which promote positive representation and inclusion of young people who are culturally and linguistically diverse, Aboriginal, have a disability or are gay and lesbian. Examples of a recent show which effectively represented culturally and linguistically diverse and Aboriginal issues is the comedy 'Black and Tran' starring Hung Lee, a Vietnamese comic, and Ningali Lawford, an Aboriginal actor. The comedy show explored issues of refugees, immigration, racism and identity.
60. The Internet is a good tool to reach young people and a powerful education resource to develop a multicultural diverse and culturally competent society. Effective websites need up-to-date links, information on anti-racism strategies and lobbying, interactive and creative components.
61. Alternative mediums exploring culturally and linguistically diverse and Aboriginal youth issues such as festivals, music, exhibitions, performance, workshops and magazines should be available for young people in regional areas who lack access to the web.
