The New Nation - Internet Edition

ACCORDING to a recent AFP new agency report from Melbourne, some 85 per cent of Australians believe the country has a problem with 'racism' as a new research has shown following renewed ethnic tensions recently. The study, led by University of Sydney social science Professor Kevin Dunn, found 'one in five had experienced racial abuse' while 'one in 10 had been excluded from activities on the basis of race'. The Challenging Racism Project, collating surveys and studies over the past 11 years, provides a timely snapshot of Australian race relations, which are again under a cloud after a series of attacks on Indian students studying over there.

Racial prejudice was identified as a problem by 85 per cent of respondents, yet 87 per cent believed cultural diversity was positive for Australia.The apparent contradiction, as stated in the study, reflected Australians' mixed feelings towards multiculturalism. Australians are usually 'pro-cultural diversity', yet anxious of the dangers inherent to cultural diversity if it is not well managed. Australia's major racial flashpoint was the Cronulla riots in December 2005, when mobs of whites attacked Lebanese Australians at a southern Sydney beach, sparking a series of retaliations. Most recently, Indian students have been subject to violent attacks in major cities, causing tensions in relations with Delhi.

There is a need for the realities of racism to be acknowledged, this is essential for enabling public policy responses to racism, the study says. Muslims were the minority most often cited as a concern by Australians, followed by Aborigines, Asians, black Africans and Jews. Almost one-in-four victims of racism said they were 'more bitter and cynical' as a result of their experience. Professor Dunn considers these outcomes are inconsistent with a healthy society.