THE HON TANYA PLIBERSEK MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR EDUCATION AND TRAINING
MEMBER FOR SYDNEY

ANDREW GILES MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR CITIES AND URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE
SHADOW MINISTER FOR MULTICULTURAL AFFAIRS
SHADOW MINISTER ASSISTING FOR IMMIGRATION AND CITIZENSHIP
MEMBER FOR SCULLIN

RACISM HAS NO PLACE IN OUR SCHOOLS

Research conducted by the Australian National University (ANU) that has revealed a deeply concerning level of racism in schools in New South Wales and Victoria must be a call to action.

No Australian should be subject to racism, and this is especially so in our schools. It is unacceptable that as many as one in three school-age children have been abused, threatened and discriminated against simply because of who they are, where they may have come from, the faith they profess or how they dress.

According to the ANU survey of 4600 state school pupils across Victoria and NSW, one in five African students has been threatened by another student and almost half of East Asian students have been called names.

As the report acknowledges, our schools reflect our society. So if we are to address the serious issues the report reveals, consistent national leadership in standing up for multiculturalism and multicultural communities is required.

Racism damages individual lives, and it diminishes all of us. It’s not who we are.

Labor believes that every Australian is entitled to respect, to be proud of who they are, and to go about their life free from discrimination.

We should all stand united against racism and hate.

TUESDAY, 27 AUGUST 2019