Now is the time for a national anti-racism campaign, Kristina Keneally, the shadow minister for home affairs, immigration and citizenship, told members of the Blue Mountains Refugee Support Group in Springwood on Wednesday, March 11.
The coronavirus outbreak has fueled racist comments and attacks on people of Chinese and Asian background, and combined with a rise in anti-Semitism and attacks on Muslims, a national campaign was needed, the senator said.
“We are seeing a rise in right wing extremism, a rise in racially motivated attacks, and the coronavirus just shows that unfortunately when people are fearful, they will sometimes resort to racial stereotypes and condemnation,” Ms Keneally said.
“The reality is, Australia is a country that is built by people from all corners of the globe, we are proud of that, it is a strength. Most Australians do value that strength and an anti-racism campaign is a way for us to come together as a community, show solidarity for one another and to make clear to ourselves and the wider world that we are a welcoming, supportive, multicultural country.”
Ms Keneally took the opportunity, with Andrew Giles, the shadow minister for multicultural affairs, to meet members of the Blue Mountains Refugee Support Group, while in the area visiting Mt Tomah and Bilpin with the Labor shadow ministry in the wake of the bushfires.
“It was a perfect opportunity for Andrew Giles and I to come meet with this group, particularly to discuss the range of issues they are campaigning on and for me personally, it was a great morale boost to know that there are so many people in the community who want to ensure a just and fair outcome for asylum seekers and refugees,” Ms Keneally said.
Read the article by Ilsa Cunningham in the Blue Mountains Gazette.