Thursday, 28 November 2024

Ministers statements: racial discrimination

Ingrid STITT (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (12:09): Yesterday the Minister for Treaty and First Peoples and I had the great honour of launching the nation’s first anti-racism strategy, a long-term plan to prevent and address racism and discrimination in Victoria and ensure Victoria is a place where everyone is safe and respected. For too many Victorians, racism remains an everyday reality. The last few years have been particularly challenging for our social cohesion and our multicultural and First Peoples communities. The COVID-19 pandemic was the catalyst for an increase in overt racism towards our Asian and Chinese communities. It also laid bare the racial inequalities in our economy.

First Peoples communities were subject to vile abuse and racism as a nation divided over the Voice referendum, and the conflict in the Middle East has polarised many in our community. We have seen unacceptable increases in antisemitism and Islamophobia, and disturbingly we have seen a new wave of far-right extremists and neo-Nazis that have been emboldened by this division. There is no easy solution to the complex issues before the community, but the anti-racism strategy demonstrates our commitment to dismantling racism at every level. The strategy sets the expectation that every Victorian, every government body and every institution has a responsibility to prevent discrimination and racism. I want to be clear: eliminating racism in Victoria is not the responsibility of First Nations people and multicultural and multifaith communities. But their lived experience has shaped the practical steps that need to be taken across government and the community.

Members interjecting.

Ingrid STITT: And it does speak volumes that I am being heckled about this topic today in the chamber. I want to thank the co-chairs of the anti-racism taskforce Sheena Watt and Nick Staikos, all the members of the taskforce and the many hundreds of Victorians that helped shape this important strategy.