When Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull recently ended his silence around claims of African gangs in Melbourne, he appeared unprepared for the call outs of racism.
Whether intended or not, a community of Australians are feeling denigrated who already experience a disheartening amount of discrimination.
But it’s what the amount of the discrimination has already looked like before Turnbull’s words that makes them so damaging.
The Scanlon Foundation’s 2015 survey, looking at understanding immigrants and cultural diversity among sub-groups in Australia, gave insight into why.
African Australian’s experience discrimination based on skin colour, ethnic origin, or religion more than any group in Australia based on the survey’s findings.
They make up the top four highest percentages of discrimination experienced: 60 per cent Ethiopians, 67 per cent Kenyans, 75 per cent Zimbabweans, and 77 per cent South Sudanese.
Worse so, it’s the Prime Ministers community of interest, South Sudanese Australians, that are subject to the most discrimination.
Three out of four had experienced racism, 25 per cent of which said it occurs at least once a month.
Three in four South Sudanese born Australians experiences discrimination according to the Scanlon Foundation research
Four times higher than the Australian average of one in five experiencing racism, according to a recent survey by Western Sydney University.
Other questions looking at what form the discrimination took place in also clearly showed the highest percentages for South Sudanese Australians.
A combined 43 per cent of cases were in the form of property damage and physical attack. But most often, almost 70 per cent of the time, people are “made to feel like [they] don’t belong”.
So how does this all come together?
Well, racial discrimination is always wrong, but South Sudanese Australians are already subject to enough discrimination without the help of politicians.
Of course, these figures are from 2015 to 2016, and only reflect African-born Australians.
But, since Turnbull’s words, Victoria’s Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commissioner, Kristen Hilton, said “race related reports” had increased by 34 per cent.
And while racism is no news in Australia – the same study mentioned before by Western Sydney University showed around 80 per cent of Australian’s acknowledged it is an issue – it’s clear there are still some Australians who won’t hold back.
And maybe, what’s worse, not enough Australians are willing to stand up.
If you or someone you know has experienced racism in Victoria and wants to make a complaint, call the Victorian Equal Opportunity & Human Rights Commission on 1330 292 153
