MARK DREYFUS MP
SHADOW ATTORNEY-GENERAL
SHADOW MINISTER FOR CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM
MEMBER FOR ISAACS
ANDREW GILES MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR MULTICULTURAL AFFAIRS
SHADOW MINISTER ASSISTING FOR IMMIGRATION AND CITIZENSHIP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR CITIES AND URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE
MEMBER FOR SCULLIN
The Morrison Government must join with Labor and take a stand against the appalling rise in racism and xenophobia directed at Asian-Australians in the wake of the coronavirus crisis.
According to the Australian Human Rights Commission around a quarter of people who have lodged complaints about racial discrimination in the past two months have been targeted because of COVID-19.
In recent weeks an Asian woman was kicked, spat on and racially abused in Marrickville, a South Australian councillor was spat at during a racist attack at a supermarket, an international student in Melbourne was called “coronavirus” on a tram, and a bus driver was abused.
Over the weekend a swastika flag and two Chinese flags branded with the words "COVID-19" were strung up on a phone tower in Kyabram in Victoria.
This racism must stop, now.
Just as we are doing with COVID-19, we need a bipartisan approach to tackling racism in Australia through a national anti-racism campaign.
Coronavirus poses enormous challenges, but Australia has always succeeded when inclusiveness and respect have prevailed. The vast majority of Australians are doing the right thing and pulling together, but we need to do more.
Everyone deserves respect, especially now, at this time of crisis. The virus doesn’t discriminate and neither should we.