05 June 2012, 050612, Dr Helen Szoke, human rights commission, indigenous, multiculturalism, racial discrimination comissioner, Racism
Dr Helen Szoke explains that people need to learn how to identify and react to racism in social settings.
For the past decade, Australia has become the home of multiculturalism. Half of us were born overseas. In city suburbs Gen Y mixes easily with different nationalities and cultures. The fight against racism appears to have been won. Or has it?
The Racial Discrimination Commissioner, Dr Helen Szoke, tells 3Q racism is still a pervasive problem in Australia, with ethnic minorities and Indigenous people continuing to experience discrimination in subtle and not so subtle ways.
Read a transcript of a recent interview with Dr Szoke on the issue.
Unless they’re celebrating their ethnic diversity through a weekend festival or harmony day at their local school, most Australians want people to drop obvious cultural ties.
The Australian Human Rights Commission is developing a national anti-racism strategy to educate the public on what constitutes racism and how it can be prevented and reduced.
EMC, ER, Essential Report, Greens, Labor, Liberal, Polling, polls, Race, Race issues, Racism, Religion, Religion Issues
Q. Do you think some politicians raise issues of race and religion for political purposes just to generate votes or do you think these politicians are genuinely concerned about Australia’s future?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| Some politicians raise issues of race and religion for political purposes just to generate votes | 61% | 66% | 55% | 80% |
| These politicians are genuinely concerned about Australia’s future | 27% | 21% | 37% | 14% |
| Don’t know | 12% | 12% | 7% | 5% |
61% believed that some politicians raise issues of race and religion for political purposes just to generate votes and 27% thought these politicians are genuinely concerned about Australia’s future.
Those most likely to think these politicians are genuinely concerned about Australia’s future were Liberal/National voters (37%) – and among people aged 55+, 34% thought these politicians are genuinely concerned about Australia’s future and 58% thought they use race and religion for political purposes.