In recent years, there have been many racist incidents in Australian society, raising concerns about the rise of racial discrimination. Why does racial discrimination continue to occur when laws and policies against racial discrimination have been implemented for many years? This article will explore this phenomenon in depth and analyze the causes and challenges behind it.

Examples of racial discrimination in Australia

Racial discrimination occurred in a number of incidents in October this year. On October 26, a group of neo-Nazis gathered outside the Chinese Consulate in Melbourne and made racially discriminatory remarks. On the same day, a group of neo-Nazis held banners with discriminatory slogans at a rally in support of refugees, causing tension on the scene. On October 31, some white supremacists held a rally at an Aboriginal holy site in New South Wales, holding neo-Nazi flags and slogans with the intention of promoting racist ideas. The police are currently investigating these incidents.

On November 1, the Federal Court ruled that One Nation leader Pauline Hanson had violated the anti-discrimination law by making inappropriate remarks to Pakistani Senator Mehreen Farooqi. This series of events not only affects all ethnic groups, but also makes many people feel uneasy about the future trend of racial discrimination in Australia.

Discrimination suffered by Chinese and other ethnic minorities in Australia

Many Chinese living in Australia said that they had encountered explicit or implicit racial discrimination. Mr. Lin, a Chinese student who had just arrived in Melbourne, mentioned that he had encountered racial discrimination on National Day on October 1, when a group of students threw water and insulted him. Ms. Kong pointed out that she was asked to open her bag for inspection when shopping, and even failed to get a reply when submitting her resume because her name was in Chinese. Other respondents shared the racial discrimination problems they encountered on public transportation, in the workplace, and even in daily life.

A study by the University of Melbourne showed that nearly 76% of ethnic minorities had experienced racial discrimination, especially in the workplace, shopping malls and public transportation. Even under the multicultural policy, racial discrimination still occurs frequently.

The impact of implicit racial discrimination

Compared with obvious verbal attacks or physical violence, implicit racial discrimination is more harmful. Professor Peck pointed out that implicit racial discrimination is manifested in a subtle way, such as comments like "Your English is really good", which are friendly on the surface but actually contain prejudice. This subtle racism is not easy to be pursued by law, but the psychological harm it brings to people cannot be ignored.

In job hunting, study, and life, many Chinese and other ethnic groups also said that they have been subjected to this kind of invisible discrimination. Ms. Kong mentioned that invisible discrimination is often not easy to detect, and even if it occurs in public, it is difficult to pursue legal responsibility. This kind of "micro-violence" racism does not constitute a direct legal problem, but it gradually penetrates into daily life and has a far-reaching impact.

Insufficient channels for victims of racial discrimination to seek help and legal protection

Although Australia has an anti-racial discrimination legal system, there are still difficulties in the implementation process. According to a report from Victoria University, 76% of respondents had experienced racial discrimination in the past year, but only 16% chose to report to organizations or the police. Most people believe that reporting is time-consuming and laborious, and may also bring negative consequences.

Some human rights organizations and lawyers pointed out that if victims encounter racist insults in public places and cannot confirm the identity of the perpetrator, it will be very difficult for victims to defend their rights. If you encounter discrimination at work or in your place of residence, you can file a complaint with the local arbitration agency VCAT and ask for an apology or compensation for losses. Despite this, many victims are discouraged by the cumbersome process, expensive fees and lack of clear evidence.

The underlying causes of racist behavior

Why does racial discrimination still occur repeatedly in a society that advocates equality and diversity? Many respondents believe that extreme racists are often driven by groups with poor economic conditions, low education levels and weak social identity. They blame immigrants for their economic difficulties and believe that ethnic minorities "steal" job opportunities, which leads to dissatisfaction.

In addition, racism is also used by some groups for political purposes. Professor Feng Chongyi of the University of Technology Sydney pointed out that extreme racism is not part of mainstream culture, and many discriminatory remarks are the behavior of a few extreme groups. However, some forces may misinterpret opinions against the Chinese government as racism in order to achieve their own political goals. This blurred boundary makes it difficult for people to distinguish between racism and legitimate criticism when criticizing certain behaviors.

Future response strategies and the key role of education

Solving the problem of racism requires the joint efforts of organizations and governments at all levels. Professor Peck believes that Australia's anti-racism education needs to be more targeted, and schools and workplaces should increase the content of anti-discrimination education to help people recognize the harm of racism. At the same time, in public places, managers should also respond to racist incidents as soon as possible to protect the rights and interests of ethnic minorities.

Victoria University and the local community have established multiple support networks to provide help and guidance to victims of racial discrimination. Professor Peck said that by establishing anti-racism organizations in the community, assistance can be provided quickly when racist incidents occur. However, many people believe that the implementation of the current anti-racial discrimination laws needs to be improved to ensure that victims can more conveniently and quickly pursue legal accountability.

Challenges of Australia's multiculturalism

The resurgence of racial discrimination in Australia is worrying, especially in today's increasingly multicultural society, where racial equality is particularly important. Although racism is prevalent in many countries, if Australia is to continue to be a multicultural country, it needs to further strengthen the enforcement of anti-racial discrimination laws and strengthen education in the community.