Labor says we need a racism campaign because Tim Sudafednasalspray got called names
Wednesday, 12 February 2020
Good to see Labor's lawyers and latte sippers clutching their pearls.
They continue to make themselves unelectable.
The coronavirus outbreak is being used as an excuse for xenophobic behaviour towards Asians, Labor frontbencher Andrew Giles will warn on Wednesday as he calls for a new national anti-racism campaign.
Pointing to the example of a News Corp columnist mocking the name of former race discrimination commissioner Tim Soutphommasane, Mr Giles will sound the alarm about a "creeping normalisation of hate and racism" in Australia.
Citing "near-constant denigration" of African-Australians in some parts of the media, violent attacks on people of Asian appearance in Melbourne and Sydney in recent years and a spike in attacks on Australian Muslims, the opposition spokesman for multicultural affairs will say racism in Australia is on the rise.
Seven years since the last national anti-racism campaign was launched by the Gillard government, he will say the government must renew its commitment to anti-racism and equality, "remembering that the standard we walk past is the standard we accept".
"It can do this by funding a new national anti-racism campaign, promoting a zero tolerance approach to racism," he will say in a speech at the Advancing Community Cohesion Conference in Parramatta on Wednesday morning.
"The aim must be to help create a culture where people are able to identify racism or discrimination and have the confidence and ability to act when they see it."
In a recent post about the coronavirus, Daily Telegraphcolumnist Tim Blair referred to Dr Soutphommasane as "former Human Rights Commission race hustler Tim Sudafednasalspray".
"Whether it's on Facebook or in the supermarket; whether it's on the football field or on the street, or the disadvantage experienced by our First Peoples – racism persists in Australia," Mr Giles will say.
If the government didn't step in, "we may end up with more racism, more violence and a country that no longer resembles what we love most about Australia".
"Across Australia, people and organisations are doing good things to reduce and prevent racism, particularly following the high-profile Adam Goodes documentaries," Mr Giles will say. "But they can't do it alone, we also need political leadership."
ENDS
BTW check out this guy's title, "Shadow Minister for Assisting Immigration" - that'll go down a treat at the election.
Labor might do a bit better if they focussed on us, not them.