Our country's political leaders often talk about
Australia's multicultural credentials making
sweeping statements about its unmatched success
in diversity.

Is this true? Or do these statements mask the
reality that we are a country with a deep racial
problem, and it's not getting better.

According to the Scanlon report in 2021, it found
that an unprecedented rise in respondents' answers
to the question "how big a problem is racism in
Australia?" 60% of survey respondents indicated it was
a "very big" problem as opposed to 40% in 2020.

In March 2022 a Diversity Council report found 43% of
non-white Australian employees commonly experienced
racism at work. While only 18% of "racially privileged"
workers reported racism as a problem.

This only highlights how widespread racism remains but how
often its dismissed by those benefiting from white privilege.

We're told that racism also plagues Australia's key
institutions - businesses, universities, public service and
federal parliaments.

Around 1 in 5 Australians say they've experienced race hate-talk,
such as verbal abuse, racial slurs, or name-calling and labelling.

And more than one in 20 Australians say they've been physically
attacked because of their race.

Sure there's been legislation like the Race Discrimination
Act and we have formally abandoned the White Australia Policy -
so why does it still exist so strongly?

Is it due to this country's history?

Is it because of the facts found by the Human Rights
Commission in 2018 - that 2,490 of the most senior posts in
Australia 78% have an Anglo-Celtic background, 19% have a
European background, less than 5% have a non-European background
and only 0.4% have an Indigenous background?

At this time of our government trying to get a referendum on
the Voice to Parliament I thought it appropriate to ask these questions and have this debate on the forum.

Your opinions would be gratefully received - preferably without
personal attacks.

I can attest to the existence of racism in Australia. I and people like me are constantly attacked for the colour (or lack thereof) of our skin.

I quite often cry myself to sleep over it.

Foxy,
Have you been promised a job with the Voice ?

Hi mhaze,

I'm so sorry to hear that.

It's unfortunate that as a result -

Some of us remain incapable of even talking about the racism
in our midst let alone what should be done to stop it.

"Or do these statements mask the
reality that we are a country with a deep racial
problem, and it's not getting better."

Keep inviting more immigrants and we'll find out.

mhaze,

I have relatives who are in a similar position to you. They
also cried themselves to sleep as children having gone to
local schools. They were white Europeans.