Nearly half of Australians have negative feelings towards people of Chinese, Sudanese and Iraqi backgrounds, a new report has found.
The Scanlon Foundation’s 2020 survey into social cohesion found 47% of respondents had a negative view of Chinese people in July last year, up from just 10% a decade ago.
The report highlights the tension at the heart of Australian multiculturalism: 84% of respondents think multiculturalism is a good thing but 60% also agree too many immigrants aren’t adopting Australian values.
And while some government MPs used the report as an opportunity to praise our support for immigration and multiculturalism, the figures again highlight the government’s failure to adequately tackle simmering racism.
‘Appalling focus on ethnicity’
For academic and editor Yun Jiang, the anti-Chinese sentiment was shocking and saddening.
“It’s very disappointing that when I’m on the street, and when I’m on TV, half the people I see have negative feelings towards me,” she said.
The report doesn’t explain why such attitudes have increased, but the past 12 months — when the global pandemic produced a groundswell of anti-Asian racism and conspiracy theories, and geopolitical tensions between China and Australia reached breaking point — offer some clues.
Throughout last year, Asian Australians reported an increase in racist incidents. University of Sydney academic and former race discrimination commissioner Tim Soutphommasane says there has been “an appalling focus on ethnicity during some parts of the pandemic”.
“Some politicians in particular have cast Chinese Australians as fifth columnist operatives for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP),” Soutphommasane said. “Against this background, it’s no surprise to find racism being trained on some groups.”
Jiang says the geopolitical situation has led to Chinese Australians being accused of working as spies. Her experiences are an example of how toxic the discourse around China has become. When she gave evidence at a Senate inquiry last year, Liberal Senator Eric Abetz demanded she and other Chinese Australians condemn the CCP. (He was accused of pushing a McCarthyist loyalty test.)
Beyond China
But it wasn’t just the Chinese community targeted by increased hostility. As this table from the report shows, negative sentiment towards people from non-Western countries increased substantially over the past decade.
In November 2020 more than half the respondents had a negative feeling towards people from Sudan. The Sudanese community has been a particular target of over-policing and racist commentary over the past few years.
Mabor Chadhuol, executive director of the Society of South Sudanese Professionals, says both the political class and the media had a hand in shaping these perceptions.
“The media has portrayed South Sudanese people negatively, and that really affects perceptions and leads to Australians viewing us as a failed society,” he said.
Too often, he says, commentary overlooks the structural problems facing the community — discrimination in the job market, youth unemployment, family violence and a lack of support for refugee communities — and instead pushes a narrative about criminality.
In 2018 baseless hysteria about “African gangs” swarming Melbourne was pushed by Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton, the Victorian opposition and tabloid media. Unsurprisingly South Sudanese youth in Melbourne reported a rise in racist abuse.
Last year Peta Credlin on Sky News falsely blamed Melbourne’s COVID-19 outbreak on the South Sudanese community’s alleged failure to assimilate. Following community backlash, led by Chadhuol’s organisation, Credlin was forced to apologise.
A glib response
Speaking after the report’s release yesterday, newly minted Immigration Minister Alex Hawke was oddly upbeat.
“Overwhelmingly there’s been an increase in support for immigration and Australian multiculturalism and I welcome that,” he told Sky News.
Hawke then came under fire for denying far-right extremism was on the rise, a statement that is inconsistent with several warnings made by security services over the past few years.
“It’s shocking that, in Canberra, there is a section of our political class who seek to downplay racism,” Soutphommasane said. “We see that in how some politicians refuse to call out right-wing extremism.”
For Jiang, the report and the response were indicative of the government’s approach to race issues.
“One thing we know about the current Australian government is it doesn’t take racism very seriously,” she said. “While there are a lot of calls for the government to tackle racism, it hasn’t really done much but to pay lip service.”
After Abetz’s demands for a loyalty test were widely condemned, most government MPs — with the exception of NSW Senator Andrew Bragg — remained silent.
And the response to the report is part of a pattern for the Coalition — evidence which challenges the narrative of a multicultural utopia is conveniently whitewashed.
When China warned its citizens about a rise in racist incidents in Australia last year, ministers Simon Birmingham and Alan Tudge disputed the claim. But the Australian Human Rights Commission had also reported a spike in racial discrimination complains from February to the middle of last year.
Meanwhile Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s anti-racism plan this week has been peak ScoMo: he’s urging government MPs to show their support for the Chinese-Australian community by attending Lunar New Year festivals.
The lack of action from the federal government is not oversight, it is policy. The COALition attracts racist voters and does not want to alienate them by speaking out on these issues.
“but 60% also agree too many immigrants aren’t adopting Australian values.”
I’ve lived here all my life,a part from some extensive travel through Asia and a bit in UK, and for the life of me I have NO IDEA what ‘Australian values’ are.
I know what they were when I was growing up, or at least I thought I knew. A healthy scepticism and a BS detector was entrenched, but these days a carnival barker like Scotty FM gets to be PM.
Nobody is in a position to say exactly what our values are at any given time, but the rise of bogan culture in the last 30 years has been a trend that I care not for.
Australia day scares me now, it seems to bring out the worst aspects of our culture, all the xenophobia and ‘love it or leave it’ mentality.
Australian values are apparantly Bogan and Judeo-Christian. Australians are indeed xenophobic, but only against non anglo-saxons.
Creeping Boganism is the true enemy.
It’s not creeping, it’s galloping.
“It’s very disappointing that when I’m on the street, and when I’m on TV, half the people I see have negative feelings towards me,” she said.
Really, this, from an academic! Not even anecdotal, more just projection, unless she’s a mind reader.
Not disputing at all the rise in anti-Chinese sentiment, but if you’re finding it everywhere you look, by dint of seeing other people’s feelings, perhaps the problem is better explained by other means.
It’s in the eyes. I routinely walk slightly behind my wife when out together and the looks on people’s faces give away their thoughts. I have even seen a few go to say something to her until they realise we are together and then they pull their heads in. I have heard the nasty comments and pulled people up quite hard. Every one has been an “Australian “. Racism is very much a part of the Australian Psyche.
That has been my experience also. My wife gets dirty looks quite frequently.
With this government racism is policy – it garners what would otherwise be One Nation votes. The dog whistle (perfected by Howard) and and down playing or denying racism it when it occurs are SOP.
You cannot blame individual Chinese for the stupidity of the Chinese Government any more than you could blame all Germans for World War 2.
The Chinese Government is at fault, not the individual mainstream person.
Bigotry is bigotry and no matter how it manifests itself, I am sure that a lot of Chinese are opposed to the Government ( Hong Kong) comes to mind.
So any sad individual out in the Anglo European community who is prejudice against Chinese, take a long hard look at yourself.
For what, precisely is China at fault – that they couldn’t point the finger at us for too?
Australia did not take over or nor enforce it’s s Military will on others aka Spratly Islands which the Chinese Government refused to accept umpires decision, Australia did not take over Hong Kong, Australia is not flying it’s s jets over Taiwan in a attempt at intimidation.
These are what we can point the finger at and that list is long.
Chinese Government I said and not the individual.
China bashing again I see. Wrong again too as usual.
The 1887 Chinese-Vietnamese Boundary convention signed between France and China after the Sino-French War said that China was the owner of the Spratly and Paracel islands. Under the 1898 Treaty between Spain and the US, the Spratly Islands do not belong to the Philippines. Japan surrendered its rights to the Spratly and Paracel Islands under the 1951 San Francisco Peace Treaty.
As to the PCA ruling, China (including Taiwan) does not recognize this Arbitration decision and did not participate in same. Regardless, the Tribunals ruling does not “rule on any question of sovereignty over land territory and would not delimit any maritime boundary between the Parties”. China has the right to defend its territory. BTW. The US has never ratified the UNCLOS so how can they “enforce” it? The usual Western hypocrisy.
As to Hong Kong, China already owns it! HK has a “High Degree of Autonomy” but not “Total Autonomy “. Unfortunately, HK continually abrogated its responsibility to pass it’s own National Security Law (for over 22 years) under Article 23 of the Basic Law, which forced China to use its authority to pass same under Annexure III of the Basic Law.
The Riots in 2019 were appalling and unjustifiable. Rioters do not have the right to occupy airports, universities etc, to vandalize public transport, buildings etc, to takeover city streets, to assault and murder other citizens and to override other citizens rights to go about their lawful business unimpeded
Taiwan is also a part of China so the matter of aircraft is an internal one. I also note that the western press never report on Taiwan’s actions against mainland China (which are many). The usual Western hypocrisy.
I recommend that you, at the very least, read the books that Erasmus advised you of previously.
Hoo Humm..Why is it moving into Papua New Guinea, why a sudden interest in Vanuatu and why conflict in India why is it forcing itself militarily on Asian countries, I guess once again you never read my initial convo.
If you did you had better re read it as you missed most of it!
I am not China bashing I said ( if you read) is the Government of China and not the average citizen is causing the grief.
He who is born to rule (Xi) has overtones of Ceaser and how Ceasar wanted to control all.
Read what is said and then respond accordingly.
I stand by what I say am not going to debate it
Xi is agitating for conflict, and trying to force U.S hand.
And if you care to observe a report on you tube from a Australian journo who went to one of the islands inside the Spratlys, a corp of Philippine Military are on the wreckage of a ship that the outer islands cannot supply as Chinese Patrol boats stop them from supplying.
Exceptionally pig-ignorant nonsense, ‘laider, devoid of both historical and contemporary evidentiary accuracy.
I suggest you avoid the Hartcher/ASPI motif, and hop on over to John Menadue’s Pearls & Irritations, just today, and seek out a piece by Colin Mackerras, entitled;
‘Nine’s international editor’s demonising of a ‘genocidal China’ is downright dangerous’.
And, before you hop back on your nationalist high horse, I suggest you do 2 other things;
It’s entitled;
‘War crimes? What war crimes? Nothing to see here’
Both pieces are very straight forward, and go hand in glove.
To best understand the history of Taiwan, Lex, I strongly recommend ‘The Politics of Heroin’, by the great Prof Alfred McCoy.
Read it a few decades ago. McCoy was ‘warned off’ returning to the US to provide testimony to the US Senate, on the US relationship with Chiang Kai-shek.
McCoy was young at the time (IIRC the book was effectively his PhD thesis). So, he heeded the warning, and came to Oz to let things cool down.
And, he was the first to uncover, while he was hiding out in Oz, the role of the Nugan Hand Bank in helping to bring down the Whitlam Government.
Still churning out factual accounts of history, (now) old Al.
Jan 28th, Counterpunch: ‘While America was sleeping’, incl;
“While this country was similarly sleepwalking through the fever dream of President Donald Trump’s version of America First, the world kept changing as decisively as it did during those seven years when General Washington’s Continentals fought the British Redcoats. Just as King George suffered a searing defeat that cost him the 13 colonies, so the United States has, with similarly stunning speed, now lost its leadership of the international community.”
And after you’ve read all that and you’ve got a strong stomach, you might want to check out this BBC report here:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-55794071
And, I suggest you dig into the backgrounds of the people behind that, and other Sinophobic nonsense, peddled by the likes of the ‘Beeb’.
Start with Adrian Zenz, an evangelical German ‘anthropologist’, who has previously committed himself to Google books, where he has expressed his approval for the ‘philosophy’ and methods of one A. Hitler, all the way down to the ‘final solution’.
The Brits this week banned Chinamen telly (CGTN) from their airwaves.
That single move will accelerate their demise (they were already in the worst economic downturn in 300 years).
The Chinamen will smash them to smithereens.
So you reckon Zenz, who has been criticizing the CCP’s genocidal program against Muslims in Xinjiang, is a follower of Hitler?
Genocide? Go to Xinjiang and you will see plenty of Uighurs around.The only ones imprisoned are linked to the East Turkmenistan Terrorist Group that has committed multiple bombings in China. I’ve seen the BBC “reports” and, as usual, they make them come out in the direction they were seeking. It’s also easy to make unsubstantiated claims to secure a Visa elsewhere (I personally know people who made claims about Tianenmen Square just to secure a Visa). Otherwise, why would the BBC bother going to Xinjiang? It’s not great TV to say” we were wrong” is it? Notice how the Australian War Crimes coverage died down quickly.
I will admit however, that the difference between how China and the West handle Muslim Terrorism is stark. China attempts to educate radical Muslims as to why terrorism is wrong and then releases them back into Society, while the West just starts a War with them which results in the deaths of millions ( Afghanistan, Iraq anyone?).
You might also want to look at the UK’s Desistance and Disengagement Programme (DDP) and the Muslim de-radicalization centers in France.
And yes, Zenz is a Nazi apologist. Here is one of his quotes “Adrian Zenz
@adrianzenz Sep 2, 2019
Many Germans liked Hitler’s control mechanisms. They reduced crime and rid society of unpopular minorities”
This quote taken out of context is sheer dishonesty, like David’s below. It is an ironic reply to defenders of China’s genocidal activities in Xinjiang who say many Chinese like Xi’s control mechanisms because they supposedly reduce crime, just like Germans liked Hitler’s control measures for the same reason.
Quote the link with the man’s own words, and this ‘editorial management’ sends it off to be assessed for approval.
So, I’ll just quote the man himself, from that link;
“For the Jews, therefore, the wrath of God will prove to be both a blessing and a curse; for those who belong to the third that will be refined by God’s fiery furnace, and will end up obtaining salvation, ultimately, it will be a blessing…”
For the ‘forecast’ for the other 2/3rds,
Google books, p 290, from the title;
“Worthy to Escape: Why All Believers Will Not Be Raptured Before The Tribulation”
By;
Adrian Zenz, Marlon L. Sias
Leaving the EU was the greatest mistake the UK has made. The UK was an economic wasteland until they joined the Common Market. Their singular, anti-immigration, bigotry will come back and bite them hard.
You not only missed the point of the article you attempted to blame our racism on another country!
Australia is a White Racist country. I see it every day. White Australians all think that they are not racist but deep down it always comes out. I am a 5th Generation Anglo Saxon Australian and while I never have an issue with racism, my wife, who wasn’t born in Australia and isn’t Anglo Saxon does experience it. To blame our ongoing racism on another Country and its Government is the typical ploy of racists – “Its all their fault not mine”. SOP for the German Nazis I am sure even you would be aware. It is however, typically Australian to find excuses not to take ownership and actually resolve our problems.
Your uninformed comments on China have come up before and are the usual cry of those that know nothing about China. The Australian Government is at fault in this instance. Scummo and his Trumpist Nazi’s have followed “megaphone” diplomacy (instead of using actual Diplomacy) when dealing with China. Accordingly, China sees us as rude, intolerant, disrespectful and failing to mind our own business (all of which are true). China has the right to it’s own political system and to manage it’s own internal affairs without interference. Once again, Australia and the West refuse to accept this. China is just giving us a dose of our own medicine from the US playbook – Sanctions! Not pleasant is it?
Hong Kong is an internal Chinese matter and nothing to do with Australia. It is not, has never been and will never be a Democracy. You would be surprised that the Chinese people actually like their Government and think they do a pretty good job. Please dont come back and say “that’s because they can’t access our press”. They have more access to information than the West does and they are fully aware of what is going on.
Please also don’t trot out the old Human Rights amd International Law line either. The West has the worst history on Human Rights abuses and the US and Australia certainly can’t take the high ground. Australia’s latest HR report is appalling and confirms our racism. The US has, so far, failed to ratify 45 UN Conventions as they dont want to be held accountable.
White Australians need to take a good, hard look at themselves, try looking at things from others perspectives and, above all, consider how they would like to be spoken to and treated if the shoe was on the other foot.