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Race Discrimination

Heard it too many times: I’m not racist, but ...

Is Australia a racist country? During my time as Race Discrimination Commissioner, I have been asked this question constantly. My answers tend to be met with an air of disappointment. Many hope to hear either a simple "yes" or "no". Not everyone is satisfied with the thought that, while racism...

Category, Opinion
Race Discrimination

Cultural diversity in the workplace

Introduction Many of you will have seen some advertisements not long ago from Beyond Blue’s Stop. Think. Respect. campaign, which highlighted the presence of ‘the invisible discriminator’. The advertisements were aired to raise awareness about the harms of racism against Aboriginal and Torres Strait...

Category, Speech
Race Discrimination

Forty years of the Racial Discrimination Act

In October 1975, at a ceremony for the proclamation of the Racial Discrimination Act, then Prime Minister Gough Whitlam described the legislation as ‘a historic measure’, which aimed to ‘entrench new attitudes of tolerance and understanding in the hearts and minds of the people’.(1) The Act was...

Category, Opinion
Race Discrimination

The Racial Discrimination Act at 40

This year marks 40 years since the Commonwealth Parliament enacted the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth). The legislation did not enjoy an easy birth. In parliamentary debates it was met with fierce resistance from some quarters. One senator predicted that, far from eliminating racial...

Category, Opinion
Race Discrimination

The role of universities

Thank you, Queensland University of Technology, University of Southern Queensland, Griffith University, University of Queensland, Australian Catholic University, University of the Sunshine Coast, James Cook University, Central Queensland University and Bond University for the invitation to speak...

Category, Speech
Race Discrimination

'A Brave Piece of Legislation': The Racial Discrimination Act, 40 Years On

Dr Tim Soutphommasane, Australia's Race Discrimination Commissioner, delivered the opening address to the RDA@40 Conference in Sydney, 19-20 February 2015. The following is an edited version of that address. Read the full article following the link below You can also read the full speech from our...

Category, Opinion
Race Discrimination

A Brave Act: Opening remarks to the RDA@40 conference

A Brave Act : Opening remarks to the RDA@40 conference There’s nothing like a good birthday celebration. Throughout this year, the Australian Human Rights Commission will be observing the 40 th anniversary of the Racial Discrimination Act. A year-long celebration may sound a bit excessive. But...

Category, Speech
Race Discrimination

40 years of the Racial Discrimination Act

Explore an opinion piece that celebrates 40 years of the Racial Discrimination Act by former Race Discrimination Commissioner, Dr Tim Soutphommasane.

Category, Opinion
Race Discrimination

Beware of cover for making bigotry respectable

Islam isn't a race. It's a religion. Therefore, abusing Muslims isn't racist. The real racism is that we're not allowed to criticise Islam.This is the logic of many who are expressing hostility towards Muslims and Islam. Many have written to me directly, often in language unfit for public repetition...

Category, Opinion
Race Discrimination

Reflections on casual racism and the sentiments

Reflections on casual racism and the sentiments Centre for Research in Education Annual Oration University of South Australia, Adelaide 13 November 2014 In the many conversations I have about race, there is a familiar note on which people conclude: ‘We need more education; if only we had more...

Category, Speech
Race Discrimination

You’re not a killjoy calling out racism

THE historian John Hirst has described Australia as a democracy of manners — we treat one another as social equals. We are certainly informal and familiar in how we interact. We sit in the front seat with a taxi driver, we rarely refer to people as “sir” or “madam”. And we’re not afraid to let our...

Category, Opinion
Race Discrimination

Walk in Another's Shoes? Reflections on Empathy, Power and Privilege

The idea of the recent Harmony Walk is based on a simple proposition: that people, from all backgrounds, can walk in solidarity. It's a simple proposition, yet a challenging task. Because solidarity requires compassion. Before we can walk with someone, we may first need to walk in their shoes. Doing...

Category, Opinion